Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister Binyamin NetanyahuFlash 90

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, responded Riday to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's remarks in which he was cited as saying that Israel "has been a wound on the body of the Islamic world for years and should be removed."

Iran's semi-official ISNA news agency said Rouhani spoke after taking part in an annual “Al Quds Day” rally in Tehran on Friday.

It quoted Rouhani as saying: "The Zionist regime has been a wound on the body of the Islamic world for years and the wound should be removed."

"Rouhani's true face has been revealed earlier than expected," said the Prime Minister, "Even if they will now rush to deny his remarks, this is what the man thinks and this is the plan of the Iranian regime."

Referring to western commentators who have referred to Rouhani as a "moderate" who could depart from the aggressive foreign policy of his predecessor, the PM cited his recent remarks as a wake up call to the world:

"These remarks by President Rouhani must rouse the world from the illusion that part of it has been caught up in since the Iranian elections. The President there has changed but the goal of the regime has not: To achieve nuclear weapons in order to threaten Israel, the Middle East and the peace and security of the entire world. A country that threatens the destruction of the State of Israel must not be allowed to possess weapons of mass destruction," the Prime Minister said.

Rouhani won Iran's June 14 presidential election, and will replace Ahmadinejad on Sunday. He has enjoyed the image of a “moderate,” compared to his predecessor, but Israel has warned that he is “a wolf in sheep's clothing.”

Last month, Arutz Sheva revealed that in the weeks after Rouhani's elections, a record of at least 61 Iranians were executed by the regime. Human rights and Iranian opposition groups warned the bloodshed was a clear signal that the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khameini, had no intention of "moderating" his country's policies.

Meanwhile, outgoing President Ahmadinejad on Friday warned Israel that a regional storm was on the way to "uproot" the Jewish state.

"I will inform you with God as my witness, a devastating storm is on the way that will uproot the basis of Zionism," Ahmadinejad told crowds at annual Quds Day rallies.

Israel "has no place in this region", he added.