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US resumption of nuclear testing would trigger reciprocal actions: Russia

Iran Press TV

Friday, 07 November 2025 6:25 PM

Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has warned that if the US restarts testing its nuclear weapons, this would trigger reciprocal actions by other countries.

US President Donald Trump said last month that he had instructed the country's Department of War to resume testing nuclear weapons.

Trump instructed the Pentagon to resume nuclear testing on an "equal basis" with China and Russia, ushering in a major shift in decades-long US policy.

Trump made the announcement after condemning Moscow for testing its new Burevestnik missile, a nuclear-powered weapon capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

His announcement met with negative reaction among disarmament advocates and global security experts, who warned that reviving nuclear weapons tests could destroy decades of painstaking non-proliferation efforts and lead to countries conducting retaliatory tests worldwide.

Zakharova on Friday said the Trump administration had issued "contradictory" announcements on the testing of nuclear weapons, urging the Americans to clarify whether they were against or pro-nuclear testing.

"⁠If it is the latter, ‌then this will create negative dynamics and trigger steps from other states, including Russia, in response," she said.

"For now, we note that the signals emanating from Washington, which are causing justified concern in all corners of the world, remain contradictory, and, of course, the real state of affairs must be clarified," Zakharova told reporters.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin had ‌noted a lack of clarity around the US nuclear testing plans announced by Trump.

The Russian leader instructed top officials on Wednesday to prepare proposals for Russia to carry out its own potential nuclear testing in response to any US test.

He said Moscow would be "obliged to respond" if Washington or any other signatory to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) carries out a nuclear test.

Experts expect the resumption of nuclear testing by any major power would result in another global arms race.

The United States and Russia by far have the world's largest nuclear arsenals, followed by China, France and the United Kingdom, respectively.