Iran: Attack Will Lead to Israel's Collapse Iran's defense minister says an Israeli attack will lead to the collapse of the Jewish state. The comments by Gen. Ahmad Vahidi are one of the strongest statements from Iran that it will punish Israel should it attack Iran's nuclear facilities. Vahidi's remarks were posted on the state-run Press TV's website Saturday. Israel has recently increased its rhetoric warning of the need to halt Iran's nuclear development. Israeli officials say Israel must act by the summer because Tehran is moving more of its nuclear installations underground. The U.S. and some of its allies accuse Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran denies. Israel views Iran as an existential threat.