Iran Condemns Trump’s Call to Resume U.S. Nuclear Testing

On 31 October 2025, Donald Trump announced that he had instructed the United States Department of Defense (rebranded in his message as the “Department of War”) to resume nuclear weapons testing on an equal basis with other countries such as Russia and China.

In response, the Islamic Republic of Iran issued a strong condemnation. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the move as “regressive” and irresponsible, accusing the United States of nuclear‑armed bullying. He criticised Washington for accusing Iran of pursuing a weapon while unveiling renewed plans to test nuclear arms.

Araghchi’s statement emphasised Iran’s view that its nuclear programme is strictly peaceful, pointing out that Tehran has never conducted a nuclear test, and arguing that Washington’s public threat undermines global non‑proliferation efforts.

Analysts note that the U.S. decision appears to be a response to recent high‑profile weapons demonstrations from Russia and China, rather than directly related to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. For example, Russia recently flaunted its Poseidon nuclear‑powered torpedo and other advanced systems, while China showcased its Dongfeng‑5 ICBM during a military parade.

What complicates the picture is the status of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test‑Ban Treaty (CTBT). Though the treaty bans nuclear‑explosion testing, the U.S., China and Iran have signed but not ratified it; Russia withdrew its ratification in 2023.

Nuclear‑security experts highlight ambiguity in Trump’s announcement — it’s not clear whether “testing” refers to full‑scale nuclear detonations, missile tests with dummy warheads, or other demonstrative launches. For instance, the U.S. already conducts missile‑launch tests, but they typically don’t involve live warheads or explosive nuclear detonations.

In sum, Iran views the announcement as a glaring example of double standards: a country that chastises Iran’s nuclear programme now openly moves to bolster its own. Meanwhile, the global non‑proliferation architecture may face renewed strain, with the prospect of more testing undermining decades‑old norms.

Key take‑aways:

Trump has ordered the Pentagon to resume U.S. nuclear weapons testing.

Iran strongly condemns the directive, calling it both hypocritical and destabilising.

The CTBT remains unratified by key states, raising questions about enforcement and accountability.

Analysts interpret the U.S. move as tied to great‑power competition, especially with Russia and China.