Israeli President Shimon Peres thanked Canada Saturday for suspending diplomatic relations with Iran, dpa reported.
"Canada has proven once again that morals come before pragmatism, Canada has demonstrated that policy must reflect principles and values," he said in a statement that stressed he hoped other nations would see Canada as a moral example.
It is not acceptable for one UN member to threaten to destroy another in violation of the UN charter, he said, warning of the possibility of a nuclear-armed Iran.
"The combination of hegemonic ambition, political madness and a nuclear weapon is an unacceptable and unbearable combination which endangers the entire world and against which the entire world must act with all its power," he said.
Canada said Friday it had closed its embassy in Iran and is expelling all Iranian diplomats from Canada. Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said in a statement that the Iranian government was "the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world today."
Tehran said Canada had sacrificed its national interests for the sake of Israel.
"The decision by Canada showed that this country has sacrificed the interests of its nation for the sake of the Zionists (Israel) by following their policies against Iran," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Saturday.