US passes message to Iran not to escalate at ‘critical moment’ for Middle East

The United States has been urging other countries through diplomatic channels to tell Iran that escalation in the Middle East is not in their interest, a State Department spokesperson said, at what Secretary of State Antony Blinken called a “critical moment” for the region.

Blinken said Washington was “engaged in intense diplomacy, pretty much around the clock” to help calm tensions amid fears Iran is preparing a retaliatory strike against Israel.

“All parties must refrain...