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White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby on Thursday said that Washington is "very concerned" over escalating tensions between Israel and Iran after a deadly airstrike on the Islamic Republic's embassy in Syria, Newsweek reported.

Tehran has warned that it "reserves its legitimate and inherent right" to defend itself after the attack on Iran's consulate building in Damascus on Monday killed several military officials, including two senior commanders. Iranian officials have blamed Israel for the attack, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has declined requests from Newsweek to confirm or deny its role in the bombing.

Speaking with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Kirby said the White House was "concerned" over the possibility of tensions between Iran and Israel heightening into a full-scale war in light of the attack, adding: "We're all taking this very, very seriously. Nobody wants to see this conflict escalate."

Washington continues to support Israel's right to defend itself, however, and Kirby told Blitzer that Iran's threat of retaliation "underscores the threat to the Israeli people in the state of Israel."

"One of the points the president made today in his call to Prime Minister Netanyahu, specifically with this Iranian threat, is the United States will stand with you, we will continue to help you defend yourself against these multiple threats," Kirby added.