Fears of World War III have intensified after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran over the weekend, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The strikes reportedly left at least 555 people dead in Iran, according to Al Jazeera. Tensions between the US and Iran escalated on Saturday (28 February) when the joint attacks were carried out. US President Donald Trump said the goal of the operation was to ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.

Iran responded quickly, launching retaliatory attacks against Israel as well as Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates — countries that maintain close ties with the United States. The escalation has sparked concerns that the conflict could expand into a wider global war. With these tensions rising, many people have begun asking how safe they would be if a larger conflict were to break out. Experts say countries with political neutrality, low militarisation, and geographic isolation — such as Antarctica, Iceland, New Zealand, and Argentina — would likely be among the safest places during a global conflict.

However, specialists warn that no location would be completely safe, especially if nuclear weapons were used. In the United States, previous simulations examined which areas could face the highest risks in the event of nuclear strikes targeting missile silos in the country’s heartland.

According to the analysis, the states most at risk of radiation exposure include Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota. Meanwhile, states along the East Coast and Southeast — including Maine, Florida, Georgia, and Virginia — were considered among the relatively safer regions in such a scenario.