Iran has strongly condemned Israel’s recent decision to seize additional land in the occupied West Bank, describing the move as part of a broader effort to expand what it called “illegal settlement-building” and consolidate control over Palestinian territory.
Speaking on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei linked the development to what he described as the ongoing “genocide” in Gaza and a pattern of actions aimed at entrenching occupation across Palestinian lands.
Baghaei cited the continued killing of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, alleging “flagrant violations of human rights and humanitarian law,” including the unlawful detention and mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners. He characterised these actions as “criminal conduct” aligned with what he termed a policy of “genocide against Palestinians and the colonial eradication of Palestine.”
He further argued that the “impunity” enjoyed by Israel, along with continued political and military backing from the United States and several European countries, particularly Germany and Britain, has enabled the situation to persist. Baghaei also criticised what he described as the inaction of the United Nations and other international bodies in the face of Israel’s “colonial and expansionist policies.”
Reaffirming Tehran’s longstanding position, the spokesperson said Iran supports “the restoration of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people,” including self-determination, an end to occupation, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds al-Sharif as its capital.
The remarks come after Israel approved a series of measures in the occupied West Bank that Palestinian officials warn amount to a significant breach of the Oslo Accords and a step toward de facto annexation.
The policy was announced by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defence Minister Israel Katz. It introduces sweeping changes to governance structures in the West Bank, paving the way for expanded settlement activity, further land seizures, and increased Israeli authority over areas previously under partial Palestinian administration.
Under the new framework, Israeli forces will have greater powers to enforce regulations on what they classify as “unlicensed” Palestinian construction in Areas A and B, often invoking heritage or archaeological claims to justify demolitions and confiscations.
In addition, the measures lift longstanding restrictions on access to West Bank land registry records, enabling Israeli settlers to identify Palestinian landowners and pursue direct land purchases, a shift that critics say could accelerate land transfers and deepen settlement expansion.
Palestinian officials and rights groups have warned that the changes risk further eroding Palestinian civil authority and altering the legal and administrative landscape of the occupied territory.
