Iran says Israel bill to expand settlements "obstacle" to peace

Israeli lawmakers attend a vote on a bill at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem February 6, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

TEHRAN - Iran's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday condemned a recent legislation of Israeli parliament to legalize expansion of settlements on Palestinian lands in the West Bank, Tasnim news agency reported.

Tel Aviv's settlement activities is a "serious obstacle to security and stability" in the region, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying.

Such policies, which run counter to the UN resolutions, violate Palestine's right to decide its fate under the international law and would only aggravate the situation, Qasemi said.

Iran calls on the international community "to take practical and immediate steps in support of the Palestinians' legitimate demands and... in rejection of the Zionist regime's expansionist policies," Qasemi said.

The comments came after the so-called "Regularization Law," passed by the Israel's parliament on Monday, legalized the construction of about 3,000 housing units on the private Palestinian land in the West Bank.