"We can say to Israel that if you're blaming Iran, let's go make Israel and Iran both open their facilities and be nuclear free zones. I think Iran (and) Iraq accept this but Israel is still not ready to accept this policy," Vanunu said in an interview on Swedish public radio.

Iran has been faced with stinging criticism for its atomic program, which it claims is purely peaceful, but which the United States and Israel in particular fear conceals efforts to develop nuclear weapons.

Israel, which now views Iran as its number one enemy after the downfall of Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq, has been lobbying hard for greater pressure to be exerted on Tehran.

Vanunu meanwhile called in the interview on Israel to dismantle its nuclear program -- a program the Jewish state has never acknowledged -- pointing out that "Israel is the one who became aggressive and who took Arab lands".

He made his remarks despite a prohibition against speaking to foreign media set out at the time of his release.

At his release on April 21, Vanunu was subjected to a series of sweeping restrictions, including a ban on travelling abroad as well as holding unauthorized meetings with foreigners.

Vanunu was sentenced in 1986 to 18 years in prison for "treason" and "espionage" after leaking top-secret details about the Dimona nuclear plant, where he was employed, to the Sunday Times.

His name has circulated in recent years as a possible candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize. This year's edition of the prestigious award is to be announced on Friday.

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