Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz says that US economic sanctions against Iran have proven to be effective, but the pressure might lead Tehran into adopting extreme measures, AFP reports.

“We see signs indicating that the heavy economic pressure they are under, and the fear of an uprising and the collapse of the regime, may push them to desperate steps,” Katz has said at a ceremony for defence ministry employees.

“The Ayatollahs’ regime in Iran knows very well why it does not attack Israel after we struck them powerfully twice, destroyed their nuclear programme, eliminated [Supreme Leader Ali] Khamenei, and severely damaged their strategic capabilities,” he adds, referring to previous rounds of confrontation last year and earlier this year.

The hawkish minister reiterates the threats against the Islamic republic that he has made in recent months.

“An Iranian attack on Israel will free Israel from any existing constraint,” he warns. “We will strike all of Iran’s national military and civilian infrastructure — including energy infrastructure — and push Iran deep back into the Stone Age.”