US State Dept: We Are In Final Stages Of Ceasefire Deal

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, commenting on escalating tensions in the Middle East, has told reporters that, "we are in the final stages of a ceasefire deal, and escalation has the potential to make every problem the [Middle East] faces worse."

• Miller later adds: "As you've heard the president [Biden] say, as you've heard the secretary [of State Antony Blinken] say, we really do think we're in the final stages. We have an agreement on a framework. There's some final pieces left to agree on to implementation that takes both Hamas and Israel agreeing..."
• Miller says that he hopes an emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) that took place today in Saudi Arabia "pressed upon Iran", as "the US has done with Israel", that Iran "shouldn't take any steps to escalate the conflict."
• Miller says a number of IOC member countries have expressed a "broad consensus" with the US that "escalation would only exacerbate the problem."
• Miller says he expects negotiations with Hamas and Israel, via Qatari intermediaries, to continue despite the elevation of Yahya Sinwar to the position of new Hamas leader.
• Amichai Stein at Kann reports on X a few moments ago: "Israeli officials estimate: Hezbollah will strike first "in the coming days""
• Regarding bullet at 13:04 ET 18:04 BST "Egyptian NOTAM Spikes Speculation About Iranian Response To Israel," Reuters reports: "Egyptian official source to state-affiliated al Qahera News TV: Iranian authorities said to avoid flying in Iranian airspace because of military exercises."