United States Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller commented on Wednesday at a press briefing that Israel's decision to bar United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from coming into the country is not "productive in any way."

"The UN does incredibly important work in Gaza [and] the region. The UN can play an important role for security and stability. We think it's important that Israel be able to engage with the UN," the spokesman remarked, adding that the US already told the country it should be "cognizant of its standing in the world."

Meanwhile, talking about the latest events happening between Israel and Iran, when asked why Washington was against strikes on Iran's nuclear sites, Miller stressed that while Israel has the right to defend itself, no one wants to see further escalation in the Middle East.