DUBAI: Iran President-elect Hassan Rowhani said on Wednesday it was laughable for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to say that Tehran was getting close to Israel’s “red line” over its nuclear program and derided the Jewish state’s ability to strike Iran.

The election of relative moderate Rowhani last month led to hopes amongst some in the West of progress toward resolving the decade-old nuclear dispute.

But Netanyahu warned the world not to be distracted by crises in Syria and Egypt. Israel, believed to be the only nuclear-armed state in the Middle East, has said it is keeping all options open to prevent Iran amassing enough uranium to fuel one nuclear bomb.

Iran was approaching that red line, Netanyahu said, and had to be stopped. Israel and Western powers believe Iran’s program is a veiled attempt to achieve a nuclear arms capability.

Tehran says its aims are entirely peaceful and geared toward generating electricity and aiding medical research.

“There has been a lot of talk that this option is on the table,” said Rowhani, referring to Israel’s veiled threats.