Background and objective Nuclear accidents can have significant consequences across health, social, and economic domains, including harm to public health, destruction of infrastructure, and disruption of economic and social activities. Therefore, identifying and assessing areas at risk of nuclear hazards is essential. 
Method This research aimed to rank 10 provinces of Iran based on the intensity of nuclear risk using the ARAS multi-criteria decision-making method. The criteria assessed included population, presence of nuclear facilities, economic conditions (mother industries and commercial units), urban infrastructure (air transport), and military infrastructure (airbases). Data related to these criteria were extracted from reputable national sources to ensure the highest accuracy of the results. 
Results Isfahan and Tehran ranked first and second, respectively, indicating a higher nuclear accident risk compared to other provinces. Additionally, Khuzestan, Bushehr, Markazi, Razavi Khorasan, Qom, East Azerbaijan, Sistan and Baluchestan, and Hormozgan ranked third through tenth accordingly.
Conclusion The findings can serve as a basis for planning and implementing preventive measures against nuclear accidents in at-risk provinces. A notable aspect of this research is the application of multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods to investigate nuclear incident risks, particularly within the context of Iran.