AP � Iran�s President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday called Israel a �cancerous tumor� established by Western countries to advance their interests in the Middle East.

Iran�s leaders frequently condemn Israel and predict its demise, but Rouhani, a relative moderate, rarely employs such rhetoric.

Addressing an annual Islamic Unity Conference on Saturday, Rouhani said �one of the ominous results of World War II was the formation of a cancerous tumor in the region.� He went on to refer to Israel as a �fake regime� set up by Western countries.

Rouhani said the United States cultivates close ties with �regional Muslim nations� to protect Israel, an apparent reference to Iran�s regional rival Saudi Arabia and the kingdom�s Sunni Arab allies. He said bowing to American pressure amounts to �treason.�

He added, however, that Iran was prepared to defend Saudi Arabia from �terrorism and superpowers.�

�We do consider you as a brother,� he said. �We do consider the people of Mecca and Medina our brothers,� he added, referring to Islam�s two holiest cities, in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran nearly three years ago after Iranian protesters stormed its diplomatic posts in Iran in response the kingdom�s execution of a prominent Shiite cleric. The two countries support opposite sides in the wars in Syria and Yemen.