On the evening of October 5, 2024, a 4.6 magnitude earthquake hit Iran, centered in Aradan, Semnan province, at a depth of 10 kilometers, as reported by the US Geological Survey. The tremors reached Tehran, located about 110 kilometers away, around 10:45 PM local time.

Within minutes of the initial earthquake, a second, weaker tremor was detected in Israel, triggering widespread speculation and online debates. Many social media users quickly connected the seismic activities to the possibility of a covert nuclear test by Iran, especially given the existing tensions between the two nations. A user on X (formerly known as Twitter) speculated, “Iran has gone nuclear since last night. They tested bombs 10 km beneath the surface near Semnan to minimize radiation exposure, causing a 4.6 magnitude quake..."