A magnitude 4.1 earthquake in southern Iran has reignited online speculation that Tehran may be conducting underground nuclear weapons tests, with some commentators drawing a direct line between the tremor and a potential strike capability aimed at the United States. The seismic event, recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey, occurred in a tectonically active zone where earthquakes of this size are routine. But the collision of a real tremor with Iran’s ongoing refusal to grant international inspectors access to its nuclear facilities has created fertile ground for fear and misinformation, raising the question of whether natural geology is being weaponized as a geopolitical talking point.
China announced its largest defense budget yet Thursday as it presses forward with its goal of becoming the dominant military force in the West Pacific. The draft budget was released by China‘s Ministry of Finance as the Communist Party leadership’s top legislative body, the National People’s Congress, began its annual meeting to approve the country’s priorities for the coming year.