JERUSALEM — Israel’s president has sent Iranians his traditional greeting for the Persian new year, wishing for “peace and coexistence” despite tensions over their country’s nuclear program.

Shimon Peres also urged Iranian leaders not to threaten anyone or make their “children flee home” — an apparent reference to the possibility of war.

Peres’ greeting for Nowruz was broadcast Monday over Israeli Radio’s Farsi service, which is popular in Iran. He spoke first in Farsi and then in Hebrew,

Israel’s leaders are increasingly warning of an attack on Iran if the nuclear program is not halted.

There are mounting concerns in the West that the program masks ambitions for nuclear weapons. Tehran denies the charge, claiming it’s for peaceful purposes only.