Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the United States' plans to resume nuclear tests irresponsible, AFP reports, News.bg reports.
„A nuclear-armed bully is resuming atomic weapons tests. This same bully is demonizing Iran's peaceful nuclear program“,
Araghchi wrote on social media.
The minister described Washington's decision as a „regressive and dangerous step“ that poses a serious threat to international peace and security.
US Vice President J.D. Vance said that the tests of the US nuclear arsenal would provide a guarantee that it “functions properly“.
He did not specify exactly what kind of tests President Donald Trump had ordered, who announced that he had instructed the Department of Defense and government agencies to begin testing nuclear weapons, stressing that “the process will begin immediately“.
Trump's statement was made just minutes before his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Moscow: Our tests do not violate international treaties
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia's tests of a nuclear-powered missile and torpedo did not constitute nuclear weapons tests and therefore did not fall under international restrictions.
Peskov recalled that President Vladimir Putin had warned that if any country carried out a nuclear weapons test, Russia would respond in kind.
Last week, Moscow held nuclear exercises, including tests of a nuclear-powered cruise missile and a nuclear-powered torpedo, but without nuclear warheads.
Comparison of nuclear arsenals
According to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS):
Russia has approximately 5,459 warheads,
The United States has approximately 5,177 warheads.
These numbers include active, stockpiled, and decommissioned nuclear warheads.