The interatomic separation in an Oxygen molecule is 1.2 d and its binding energy is about 4.4 eV The intermolecular potential energy between two oxygen molecules has minimum at 2.9 d. The two potential energy curves has roughly similar slopes. Would you expect the minimum of intermolecular potential energy in oxygen to be a greater or less than 4.4 eV ?
In the case of forces between molecules, the minimum comes to quite longer distance as compared to interatomic forces. In the given statement also the intermolecular distance is given to be more than the double of the interatomic distance. Intermolecular forces are weaker than the interatomic forces. This value of P.E. in the case of oxygen should be less than 4.4 eV.