Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman referred to the comments made by Iran’s Supreme leader, announcing preparations to increase the Islamic Republic’s uranium enrichment capacity if the nuclear deal would collapse; claiming it was “a sign of the hysteria and panic among Iran’s leadership.” Israel’s top defense official further asserted that Khamenei’s statement came in “response to Peugeot’s announcement that it is suspending its activity in Tehran.” Lieberman explained that “When such a corporation announces that it is leaving Iran because of the sanctions, it is a sort of a signal to the entire business community and to all the investors.” Lieberman further noted that the significance of Peugeot, which he termed as “one of pillars of Europe’s economy,” has prompted legitimate fears among Iran’s leadership of an imminent consequence, in which “all European investors will leave its territory.” Israel’s Defense Minister went on to underscore that the Iranian issue was “not an Israeli problem,” but rather a regional and global threat. Lieberman underlined a fact in which a major part of the terrorist activity around the world is inspired, funded and guided by Iran – a fact that is made clear in annual reports on world terror, in which Iran appears every year as the biggest sponsor of terrorism worldwide.
