Nuclear test ban chief warns US and Russia of rising risks
Nuclear mushroom cloud (Photo: Getty Images)
The world could face a new wave of nuclear tests if the US or Russia decides to resume them, according to the Associated Press.
According to Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization, as reported by the Associated Press.
He stated that even one such test could prompt other countries to act similarly, triggering a dangerous chain reaction. He emphasized that such a scenario could spiral out of control.
Floyd recalled that before the treaty was opened for signature in 1996, more than 2,000 nuclear tests had been conducted worldwide. At the same time, afterward their number dropped sharply — to fewer than a dozen cases, including tests by North Korea.
Despite this, the treaty has not entered into force, as several key countries, including the US, China, and Iran, have not ratified it. Russia had previously ratified the agreement but revoked that decision in 2023.
Against this backdrop, tensions are rising: at the end of 2025, both the US and Russia admitted the possibility of resuming nuclear tests, which has caused concern in the international community.
At the same time, Floyd called on leading nations, particularly the US, Russia, and China, to ratify the treaty and to adhere to a global moratorium, emphasizing that the international monitoring system can detect even low-yield nuclear explosions.
Recently, US President Donald Trump stated that he would not use nuclear weapons against Iran. He dismissed the idea in response to a question from journalists in the Oval Office.
Washington is categorically opposed to Iran's enrichment of uranium, which Tehran could use for the purpose of developing nuclear weapons. However, Iranian officials deny this fact.
