A dirty nuclear bomb is used in a densely populated area by ziran Clear and near future danger
‘There is nothing more dangerous than a desperate man who has nothing to lose.’
— Rafay Baloch
The present
As of April 24, 2026, the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, initiated by strikes on February 28, 2026, is in its ‘56th day’.
It is almost two months and what was conceived as Iran Israel war has become a boxing bout between America and Iran- and no one is even talking about Russia-Ukraine conflict anymore.
Iran being a much less powerful and much poorer than the US has done enough damage physically and psychologically to not only the US but to the entire Gulf region at large, in fact the ripples of this war have been felt across the world.
They have attacked at random anyone closer or far in terms of distance or alliance wise- caring two hoots about Muslim brother hood.
They used common sense and could understand the weaknesses and pain points of their foe. Using swarms of cheaper drones, blockading the choke point for shipping and using unmanned boats and sea mines they created havoc for Americans. If Trump was unpredictable Iran was on top of him in terms of unpredictability. They were keeping cards close to their chest and this was making the white house and pentagon restless. If one feels one knows what could be coming next, one may be grossly wrong.
One thing is very clear, that Iran has clearly demonstrated their intentions- they will hit out anywhere where they feel like causing maximum damage and psychological impact the enemy and anyone caught in the crossfire.
While Pete Hegseth – secretary of war- (they love fancy tags) may keep saying that Iran has been battered out of shape, there is neither any let up on the war front or the peace talks. It is a stubborn stand from both sides.
Bone of contention
Though ‘operation midnight hammer’ much touted American pounding of the Iranian war machine was largely successful, it could not totally obliterate the nuclear program. They still have more than 400 kg of 60% enriched Uranium which they are leveraging as sword of Damocles against the main rivals US and Israel.
If Iran is ready to go down the black hole, it may take along someone else too. They also indicated that ‘we would take down the whole world down if we go down’.
After the Bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima in Japan in August 1945, the world learnt a big lesson- nuclear war was something that would end in total disaster. No one can afford to bomb any other nation with a nuke. It was a no-go zone as it would lead to MAD- mutual assured destruction. It has been able to keep the world on an edge and the leaders on their toes since then- for almost 80 years. Yet no one was foolish enough to use a nuke in war. After 1945, world was never at peace though- there were constant conflicts between states or within states. Therefore, the danger of total disaster, itself was enough to act as a deterrent. In conventional wars the nations used to hide what they had, and kept the enemy guessing about intent and ability-how many tanks I have was a closely guarded secret, but gradually with technological advancements it was difficult to hide.
But as a nuclear power nation, it was a national pride of muscle to tell the world ‘I have it’. It gave a nuclear umbrella or ‘suraksha kavach’ to the nation having it. Even if one denied the world knew about it.
For instance Israel maintains a policy of “deliberate ambiguity” regarding its nuclear capabilities, neither confirming nor denying possession of nuclear weapons. Widely recognized as the only nuclear-armed state in the Middle East and a non-signatory to the NPT, Israel is estimated to have a stockpile of 90–400 warheads. The policy aims to ensure deterrence without triggering regional arms races.
Whereas Iran’s nuclear ambiguity is far more ambiguous. This is ‘nuclear hedging’ having 60% enriched uranium and having capability to make 90% enriched weapon grade uranium to make a bomb at will, keeping the world guessing about its intentions.
Yet with sufficient amount of 60% enriched Uranium, it can make a crude-not clumsy- dirty nuclear bomb. Of a capacity of 5 KT which would be one third the power of one dropped on Japan in 1945.
They still have close to 440 kg – some say – 200 kg of 60% enriched uranium. This is enough to make a nuclear bomb, which may be much heavier than what can be delivered by a rocket. A 60% device would likely be so heavy it could only be delivered by a large truck or a boat. Do not forget that The Fat Man atomic bomb, detonated over Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, weighed approximately 10,265 pounds (4,656 kg). It was carried and deployed by a specially modified Boeing B-29 Superfortress named Bockscar. Fat man was really fat in terms of size and weight.
Recent reports in 2026 highlight that security analysts are increasingly concerned about “asymmetric” delivery methods. There is ongoing concern that Iran could provide radiological materials to regional proxies (such as the Houthis or Hezbollah). These groups frequently use small boats and unmanned surface vessels (USVs) in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. The Houthis do not possess a formal navy of large, conventional warships. Instead, they operate a fleet of small, fast, and agile vessels, including fishing boats and specialized fast attack craft equipped with heavy weapons or repurposed as kamikaze drone boats. Since November 2023, they have used these, along with missiles and drones, to target over 170 commercial vessels. Theoretically it is possible to carry a large sized heavy bomb.
If Iran used that 60% uranium in an “implosion-type” design (squeezing the uranium with high explosives), it would create a genuine nuclear blast. Even if inefficient, a “crude” 60% nuke could still produce a blast in the range of 2–5 kilotons (roughly 1/3 the power of the Hiroshima bomb). The bomb will be heavy and could be carried by boat or by road on a truck.
Death to the enemy death to America is the war cry.
For Iran it would be a ‘dream come true’ if they could hit the American Soil.
Washington state shares a 427-mile (687 km) land border with Canada and is easily approached by road from the Canadian province of British Columbia. There are 13 land border crossings between Washington and British Columbia
But that me be too long a shot.
One has seen in Hollywood movies how some jilted generals or goons laid their hands on a nuke but last minute were caught or eliminated.
The next best option is American Allies. Especially the western ones. They can choose any one that would meet their end goal of shock, awe and worldwide panic.
A nuclear bomb attack by Iran would never be on the next-door US ally like UAE or say Saudi as it would be too close for comfort.
Hypothetically a target midway may do the job.
This is just an approximate/fictitious scenario of what could happen if a rogue state like Iran could traverse through the sea on a boat carrying a small nuclear bomb and reach the continent.
The sea route from a major Iranian port like Bandar Abbas to the Port of London (specifically major terminals like London Gateway) is approximately 6,300 to 6,600 nautical miles (about 11,700 to 12,200 kilometres).
The ten Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists involved in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks travelled approximately 500 nautical miles (roughly 900–950 km) across the Arabian Sea from Karachi, Pakistan, to Mumbai.
The distance from Iranian ports like Bandar Abbas to the US-UK military base at Diego Garcia – a plausible target-in the central Indian Ocean is roughly 4,000 kilometres.
The idea of going 12000 kilometers may again be farfetched but it would be worth looking at the devastation it could cause on a busy large port.
‘Never underestimate desperate people. You never know how far they will go to get what they want.’
Port of London scenario.
An explosion of a 5-kiloton (kt) crude nuclear device at the Port of London would be catastrophic. For context, this is about one-third the yield of the “Little Boy” bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
Because the Port of London is situated along the Thames—potentially closer to the urban sprawl of East London—the impact would be dictated by the high population density and the industrial nature of the area.
Immediate Impact would be immense:
The Scene
The detonation would create a blinding flash of light, followed by a thermal pulse and a massive shockwave.
The Fireball: A fireball roughly 150–200 meters in diameter would instantly vaporize everything within it. At the Port, this would include shipping containers, cranes, and any vessels docked nearby.
The Shockwave: Within a radius of roughly 0.8 km to 1 km, reinforced concrete buildings would be severely damaged or demolished. In the Port context, massive steel structures would be twisted, and ships would be capsized or torn apart by the pressure.
Thermal Radiation: People up to 2.5 km away would suffer third-degree burns. On a “busy day,” this would include dockworkers, commuters on nearby roads and residents in neighbouring boroughs.
Estimated Casualties
Estimating exact numbers depends on the specific location but for a 5kt blast in a densely populated riverside area of London:
Immediate Fatalities: Between 15,000 and 30,000 people could be killed instantly or within hours. These deaths would result from the initial blast pressure, building collapses, and intense heat.
Injuries: An additional 50,000 to 100,000 people would likely suffer from significant injuries, including flash blindness, severe burns, lacerations from flying glass, and acute radiation syndrome.
Physical and Economic Damage
The “crude” nature of the device suggests it might be detonated at ground level (surface burst) rather than in the air. This maximizes certain types of local damage:
Radioactive Fallout: A surface burst at the Port would suck up huge amounts of river water, silt, and debris, making them highly radioactive. This “black rain” and dust would be carried downwind. Depending on the wind direction, fallout could coat vast stretches of East London, Essex, or Kent, requiring the permanent evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people.
Crippling of Trade: The Port of London is a vital artery for UK trade. The physical destruction of berths, automated systems, and the contamination of the Thames would effectively close the port for years.
Infrastructure Failure: The blast would likely trigger secondary explosions at nearby fuel depots or chemical storage facilities common in industrial port zones. Underground utilities, including sewage and power for the surrounding area, would be severed.
The idea of this would send a chill up the spine of even a ‘James Bond’
Collateral damage
Long-term Effects
Medical Overload: London’s hospitals, even those outside the blast zone, would be immediately overwhelmed. Specialized burn units would be filled within minutes, and the “invisible” injury of radiation poisoning would manifest days later.
Environmental Impact: The Thames would suffer severe radioactive and chemical contamination, impacting the ecosystem and any water treatment facilities downstream.
While a 5kt blast is “small” in nuclear terms, the complexity of London’s infrastructure or any big city and the sheer density of its population mean the ripple effects would be felt globally, both economically and socially.
“Ghayal hai to Ghatak hai”
Think again
This article has been written for the world not to forget what could happen if Iran decides to go totally out of control. There is no coming back once the damage is done
A simulated and imaginative, fictitious scenario of such an impact should warn the world of what could happen in case it happens. This is what the people fighting Iran are fighting for. The day after will be difficult to digest and who soever will be hit will never forgive the perpetrator. But does it matter to Iran? Is a trillion-dollar question. So those who say this is a foolish war and cornering a nation like Iran which never started this war may not be the right way of looking at this mega conflict.
Don’t dare a person who has nothing else left to lose.
—Susan Elizabeth Phillips
