"The US Nuclear Posture Review reflects greater reliance on nukes in violation of the NPT [Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons], bringing humankind closer to annihilation. No wonder the Doomsday Clock is at its most dangerous since 1953," Zarif wrote on Twitter.
The NPR, published on Friday, claims that a stronger US nuclear deterrent is needed to discourage Russia, China, Iran and North Korea from either developing new weapons or expanding existing arsenals.
Moreover, the doctrine envisages short-term plans to modify existing submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) warheads to provide a low-yield option and pursue a modern nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile (SLCM) in the long run.
The NPR notes that these activities are not intended at being employed in a nuclear warfare, however, they are aimed at raising the US nuclear threshold to ensure that the country's potential adversaries perceive no possible advantage in nuclear escalation.