Russia has accused Western nuclear-weapon countries of “instrumentalising the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons treaty for self-serving political purposes”, pointing to “the unprovoked, unjustified, and unlawful aggression by Israel and the United States against Iran”, during which civilian nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards were attacked.

The United States, it said on Tuesday at the ongoing NPT review conference in New York, rejected efforts to preserve New START and declared readiness to “increase its nuclear arsenal… as well as to resume nuclear testing”.

The United Kingdom and France were accused of expanding nuclear capabilities and promoting NATO’s nuclear sharing arrangements, while reports that elements of nuclear weapons might be transferred to Ukraine were described as “outrageous and utterly unacceptable”, Russia said, adding, “this crosses all conceivable boundaries”.

Additionally, Moscow opposed “unconditional renunciation of nuclear weapons”. It stressed that it would act “in the most responsible and well‑considered manner possible”, remaining open to dialogue “but only provided that appropriate conditions are in place”.

It rejected “attempts to impose an immediate and unconditional renunciation of nuclear weapons”, stressing the principle of “undiminished security for all”.

Russia also noted that Article 4 of the NPT guarantees the inalienable rights to peaceful nuclear energy, affirming that each country has the right to “freely pursue an independent national nuclear energy policy… without discrimination”, and called for “consensus‑based solutions” to strengthen the treaty.

Meanwhile, on the third day of the NPT review conference, countries voiced alarm over rising nuclear risks, humanitarian impacts and treaty compliance, with sharp exchanges over Iran, major powers trading blame and repeated warnings that the NPT’s pillars are under growing strain.

The exchanges showed the NPT facing mounting pressure from conflicts, weak compliance, stalled arms control and modernisation of arsenals, raising nuclear risk at a moment when many countries warn the consequences are immediate, real and long‑lasting.