Blinken calls on Middle East parties to "take steps to ease tensions"

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in what he said was a "critical moment," called on parties in the Middle East to work to ease tensions as fears of a larger regional war mount after the killings last week of a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon and Hamas' top political leader in Iran.

"We are engaged in intense diplomacy, pretty much round-the-clock, with a very simple message: All parties must refrain from escalation. All parties must take steps to ease tensions. Escalation is not in anyone's interests," he said at a signing ceremony with his Australian counterpart. "It will only lead to more conflict, more violence, more insecurity."

Blinken added, "It's also critical that we break this cycle by reaching a cease-fire in Gaza, and that in turn, will unlock possibilities for more enduring calm, not only in Gaza itself, but in other areas where conflict could spread." He called on all parties to find "ways to come to an agreement, not look for reasons to delay or say 'no,'" and added, "It is urgent that all parties make the right choices in the hours and days ahead."