Iran assembly recognizes Jerusalem as Palestine capital

By Mustafa Melih Ahiskali, Sibel Ugurlu

ISTANBUL

Iranian lawmakers on Wednesday voted in favor of a bill recognizing Jerusalem as Palestine’s capital.

According to Iran’s government-run ICANA news agency, 207 out of 290 lawmakers voted in favor of the legislation.

Addressing the assembly on Wednesday, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani described the bill’s timing as “important”.

“It comes in response to the recent U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in hopes of dealing a blow to Muslims,” he said.

On Dec. 6, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, sparking a wave of condemnation and protest from across the Arab and Muslim world.