ELI5: Why hasn't the US used nuclear weapons in the Iran War?

The US hasn't used nuclear weapons in a war with Iran because using them would be like using a sledgehammer to swat a fly – it's way too much force and would cause way too many problems.

Imagine you have a playground disagreement with another kid, maybe they took your swing. You wouldn’t suddenly blow up the entire playground with a nuclear weapon, would you? That’s because:

• It would hurt everyone, not just the kid who took your swing. Other kids, teachers, and even your own friends would get hurt. Using nuclear weapons would hurt many innocent people in Iran and the surrounding countries.
• The playground would be unusable for a very, very long time. Nuclear weapons cause long-lasting damage and radiation, making the area unsafe for years.
• Everyone would be very, very angry at you. Other countries would be upset and might even try to punish the US.

• Talk to the kid and ask for your swing back. This is like diplomacy, where countries talk to each other to solve problems.
• Tell a teacher or grown-up to help. This is like asking other countries or international organizations to help solve the problem.
• Maybe even just wait your turn. This is like using sanctions or other less drastic measures to pressure Iran.