nuclear bomb

Putin stressed the importance of Russia's "triad" of nuclear forces that can be launched from land, sea or air.

Last week, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said his country has started taking delivery of Russian tactical nuclear weapons.

The deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus is Moscow's first move of such warheads outside Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union.

A Western official said over the weekend that the objective of the impending nuclear deal between the US and Iran is to stop Israel from attacking Iran.

Zakharova insisted that Russia was intent on maintaining the principle that nuclear war was inadmissible.

The expected deal would have the US provide sanctions relief in exchange for Iran limiting its nuclear program.

The deployment is Moscow's first move of such warheads outside Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union.