What is happening with nuclear weapons in the real world: tests and missile launches, official statements and threats, arsenals, treaties and talks, nuclear plants in war zones. Collected every hour from news agencies and official sources; every card links to where it was reported. Map of all nuclear tests since 1945
Media linked to Iran's Supreme Leader publish graphic naming Israel's Dimona site as target
Media affiliated with Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei published a graphic on 23 October showing Israel's Dimona nuclear facility under the headline "New fronts will be opened" and the word "soon", The Siasat Daily and JFeed reported, citing Tasnim News Agency. Siasat said the material was presented as a warning in case the United States or Israel launch further strikes. In March, ISNA had reported an Iranian military official threatening Dimona if the US and Israel pursued regime change.
Unverified reports of ballistic missile launch from Razavi Khorasan, Iran, likely a test
Open-source monitors reported on 23 October 2026 initial, unconfirmed indications of a ballistic missile launch from Razavi Khorasan province in north-eastern Iran. OSINT613 and JFeed said the launch was probably a test from a missile base in the area; Iranian authorities had not commented at the time of writing. The Critical Threats Project reported on 13 October that the IRGC had been conducting missile tests in recent days.
ExerciseUnited StatesOffutt Air Force Base, Nebraska
US Strategic Command begins annual Global Thunder 27 nuclear command and control exercise
US Strategic Command said it began its annual Global Thunder nuclear command and control exercise on 22 October 2026, with personnel from its components and subordinate units taking part. The command said the exercise aims to maintain a safe, secure, effective and credible strategic deterrent, that bomber and other aircraft flights may increase while it runs, and that it is not a response to any nation or current world events. Last year's Global Thunder 26 ran from 21 to 26 October 2025.
Iranian MP Jokar urges leaders to permit nuclear weapons use if US attacks Iran
Mohammad-Saleh Jokar, chairman of the Iranian parliament's Internal Affairs Committee, asked Iran's authorities on 22 October to permit the use of deterrent weapons, including nuclear weapons, in the event of a US attack, Iran International reported. He also urged suspending cooperation under the NPT if the US strikes. Iran officially denies seeking nuclear weapons, and Jokar did not claim the country possesses one, Israel365 News noted.
ExerciseFranceUnited KingdomSaint-Dizier air base, France
RAF Typhoons escort French Rafales in first joint UK-France nuclear deterrence exercise
Royal Air Force Typhoons took part for the first time in a French nuclear deterrence exercise, escorting Rafale jets in a simulated nuclear strike over the Mediterranean on the evening of 20 October, France's Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin said on 23 October. The French ministry said the Rafales took off from Saint-Dizier air base for the exercise, named Rummy. Reuters reported that the two countries agreed in July 2025 to deepen cooperation between their independent nuclear forces.
Cards are compiled automatically from public reports and checked against the sources listed under each one. We report what was said and by whom; we do not predict events. Figures in the panel above come from the cited organisations and are refreshed weekly.
Iran
Israel
Tehran 
United Kingdom