Special to WorldTribune.com

TEL AVIV — Israel has determined the prospect of an economic collapse in Iran.

A senior Israeli minister asserted that the Iranian economy was being ravaged by international sanctions.

Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz said through vigorous sanctions on oil and banking sectors Iran could collapse by 2015.

“The pressure works; it is effective,” Steinitz said. “If we add to this pressure a credible military threat, the chances will be greatly improved.”

In an address to a strategic conference on Oct. 7, Steinitz, briefed by the intelligence community, asserted that U.S.-led sanctions have caused
$100 billion in damage to the Iranian economy. The minister, regarded as close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said this resulted in annual inflation of 40 percent and a shrinking of the economy by 5.4 percent.

Steinitz said the West could continue to threaten Iran’s nuclear sector
through sanctions and threat of military force. The minister cited Syria’s
agreement to dismantle its chemical weapons infrastructure, deemed the
largest in the Middle East.

“This is an example of how — despite our own instincts — that
geo-political events sometimes rebound in Israel’s favor,” Steinitz said.

  Benjamin Netanyhau, Israeli intel chief sees coming collapse of Iranian economy, sanctions on Iran, Yuval Steinitz