Watch Live: State Department Holds News Briefing As Fears Grow Over Russian Use Of Вђ˜dirty Bombвђ™ -

: Officials characterized these claims as part of a recurring Russian playbook designed to manufacture nuclear panic, justify potential escalation, and shift responsibility for nuclear risks.

: The briefing occurred amid broader tensions as top diplomats gathered at the UN for a review of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) , where the UN Secretary-General warned of eroding trust and rising global military spending. : Officials characterized these claims as part of

: The U.S. and its allies, including France and the UK, have formally dismissed these new allegations as "absurd" and "transparently false". justify potential escalation