TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's new president has called Israel an "old wound" that should be removed in comments published just two days ahead of his inauguration.

Hasan Rouhani's remarks about Israel — his country's archenemy — echo those of other Iranian leaders.

Iran's semi-official ISNA news agency says Rouhani spoke after taking part in an annual pro-Palestine rally in Tehran on Friday.

The report 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 won a landslide victory in Iran's June 14 presidential election. He replaces Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday.

Rouhani has pledged to follow a "path of moderation" and promised greater openness over Iran's nuclear program, which has placed it at odds with the West.