JERUSALEM, Feb 5: Israeli President Shimon Peres said on Tuesday that the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran was growing under the “terrifying dictatorship” ruling the Islamic republic.

“The Iranian danger has grown,” Peres said at the opening of the newly-elected Israeli parliament. “It threatens our existence, the independence of the Arab states, the peace of the whole world.”

Addressing the opening of the 19th knesset, or parliament, elected in a Jan 22 general election, Peres called on the United Nations and the Arab League to act urgently to end the turmoil in Syria.

“Iran is a danger and Syria is a tragedy. Its president butchers his people. In my opinion the UN should task the Arab League with the immediate formation of a transitional government in Syria to save it from self-destruction. Assad, who has murdered tens of thousands has also murdered his future,” he said.

Syria has blamed Israel for a Wednesday air raid at a military complex near Damascus, which targeted surface-to-air missiles and an adjacent military complex believed to house chemical agents, according to a US official.

Damascus has threatened to retaliate and Syria's close ally Iran warned the attack would have “grave consequences” and that the “Zionist entity” would regret its aggression against Syria. —AFP