Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called yestereday for no relaxation of international pressure on Iran to curb its nuclear efforts after the election of a new president widely hailed as a moderate.

Netanyahu said it was Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and not the newly elected president, Hassan Rohani, who set a nuclear policy that has been challenged by tough economic sanctions and the prospect of military action.

“The international community must not give in to wishful thinking or temptation and loosen the pressure on Iran for it to stop its nuclear programme,” the right-wing Netanyahu told his Cabinet, according to a statement released by his office.

But Israeli President Shimon Peres, gave a different assessment of possible change in nuclear activities that Israel and the West fear are directed towards developing atomic bombs. Iran says it is enriching uranium for peaceful purposes only.

Asked if Rohani, a former nuclear negotiator with world powers, would alter the course of the nuclear programme, Peres said: “He said he will not go for these extreme policies. I am not sure he specified his policies. But it will be better, I am sure, and that is why the people voted for him.”

A Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Peres holds a largely ceremonial position and has little influence on decision-making in Israel. But his comments added to a burgeoning debate among Israelis over the meaning of Rohani’s surprise victory.

“It (the result) surprised all the experts and all the prophets, and this is really intriguing. Why? Because apparently there are hidden forces and strengths that were unseen or underestimated,” Peres said.

Ephraim Halevy, a former head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, said on Israel Radio that Rohani’s election “is the biggest failure Khamenei has suffered since coming to power”.