Blinken Tells Allies And Partners Middle East Is At "Critical Moment"

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller has told reporters that Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a series of calls with allies and Middle Eastern counterparts over the past days to deliver a message: "We are at a critical moment for the region, and it is important that all parties take steps over the coming days to refrain from escalation and calm tension."

• According to Miller, Blinken said: "Escalation is in no one's interest. It's not in the interest of any one country, it's not in the interest of the region..."
• Miller says that the US still sees a ceasefire in Gaza as the "crucial step" towards helping calm tensions, in addition to securing the release of hostages and alleviating the suffering in Gaza.
• Most analysts consider the prospect of a ceasefire remoteas the region confronts the risk of a wider war between Israel and Iran and its proxies, with some reportssuggesting that US officials believe an Iranian attack on Israel could come imminently.
• Miller also notes that the US has sent messages to Iran warning that escalation is not in their interests.
• Reuters reports that the government of Egypt said in a statement, following a call today between Blinken and Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry, that the US should "pressure Israel to seriously engage in ceasefire talks," and stop "brinksmanship" although it isunclearthe level of influence the US currently has over Israel.