President says the international financial crisis could lessen Teheran's ability to threaten Israel.
By JPOST.COM STAFFPeres 224.88(photo credit: AP)
The fall of oil prices due to the international financial crisis could lessen Iran's ability to threaten Israel, President Shimon Peres said Friday.
During a visit to the succa of Chief Sephardi Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Peres said: "We see only our troubles, but we must note that there is finally a drop in oil prices, and this is a severe blow to Iran."
"If the price of oil continues to drop, Iran will not be able maintain its military spending [levels]," Peres said.
"We will overcome the Iranians and all threats," he added. "Israel must move forward."
Peres also said that negotiations to secure the release of captured IDF soldier Gilad Schalit have resumed, but no progress has been made.
He said a lot more time was needed for a deal and that reaching a prisoner swap agreement depended on the Palestinian side, which, he stressed, was divided.
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