Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) produced a simulation that suggests that attacking Iran with a nuclear weapon to prevent them (Iran) from making one (nuclear weapon) of their own is not a wise option after all.

It is estimated that over 3,000,000 people would die from the immediate fallout and a additional 30,000,000 would be affected by cancer and other ill effects of radiation. The plume study suggests that nuclear fallout could reach as far as India, over 1000 miles east of Tehran. The most significant observation of this simulation is that while the devastation is enormous, the attack would fail to interrupt Iran’s nuclear advancement, which would be the main purpose of one such attack.

The detailed report focus on radioactive fallout, collateral damage, lowering the threshold for nuclear use and breaking U.S. pledges under the NPT.

Please visit USC to watch this animated simulation.

Footnote: The Union of Concerned Scientists is a nonprofit partnership of scientists and citizens combining rigorous scientific analysis, innovative policy development and effective citizen advocacy to achieve practical environmental solutions.

Photo Courtesy: UCS