A doomsday scenario has emerged amid escalating global tensions, with a map identifying seven potential U.S. targets that Russian President Vladimir Putin might strike in a nuclear attack, raising fears that World War III could be on the horizon.
The backdrop to this alarming possibility includes rising hostilities between Iran and Israel, who have exchanged missile attacks, and the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, where the U.S. has provided extensive aid to Ukraine.
This support has prompted Russia to issue increasingly hostile warnings toward the U.S., suggesting that its involvement constitutes a direct role in the conflict. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov criticized the U.S. as reckless and provocative, echoing President Putin’s warning that Washington’s support marks a deeper NATO involvement.
As U.S.-Russia diplomatic ties deteriorate and the rhetoric intensifies, many observers fear the emergence of a new Cold War. Tensions are further heightened by Iran’s defiance in the face of Western pressure, exemplified by a statement from its UN mission denouncing American diplomacy as coercive.
Meanwhile, Israel’s recent strikes on Iranian missile installations have prompted retaliatory hypersonic missile launches by Iran, escalating fears of regional war. Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned of the global risks, accusing the world of ignoring attacks on nuclear sites and suggesting the world is approaching the brink of nuclear disaster. In a now-deleted Russian state media segment, several U.S. sites were named as potential nuclear targets in the event of full-scale conflict: the Pentagon in Virginia, Camp David in Maryland, the Jim Creek Naval Radio Station in Washington State, Fort Ritchie in Maryland (near the Raven Rock bunker), the decommissioned McClellan Air Force Base in California, Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico (which stores nuclear arms), and the Pantex plant in Texas (another key nuclear facility). While Russia has avoided direct military engagement in the Middle East, experts believe this is a strategic decision, as its resources are already strained by the war in Ukraine. Nevertheless, Russia’s vocal support for Iran and condemnation of both Israel and the U.S. reveal deepening geopolitical divides that are becoming more pronounced and potentially more dangerous.