Iran says Gaza pullout 'victory' for Palestinian resistance

Yahoo News:

Thu Aug 18, 7:07 AM ET

Israel's arch-foe Iran hailed the Jewish state's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip as a victory for Palestinian resistance.

"The evacuation of the Zionist settlements shows the victory of the Palestinians legitimate resistance, and the Islamic republic of Iran welcomes any withdrawal from Palestinian land," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said Thursday.

"The evacuation of the Zionist regime from the Gaza Strip shows the reality that what was taken by force would not have been retrieved without resistance."

Iran does not recognise Israel and is a key backer of Palestinian militant groups.