Iran welcomed the decision by the United Nations to raise the Palestinian flag at its premises.
Palestine's flag will fly at the world body's headquarters and offices after the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a Palestinian resolution, infuriating Israel with a move that Palestinians described as a step toward UN membership, according to Reuters.
"Passing the resolution was tantamount to expressing solidarity with the Palestinians as well as backing their right to shape their own destiny," Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Gholam Hossein Dehqani said, IRNA reported.
Expressing hope that the Palestinians would achieve what they deserve in the international arena as soon as possible, Dehqani noted, "The UN General Assembly demonstrated its unfailing support of the Palestinians' legitimate aspiration for full independence."
There were 119 votes in favor out of 193 UN members.
The United States and Israel were among eight countries that voted against the Palestinian-drafted resolution, which says the flags of non-member observer states such as Palestine "shall be raised at UN Headquarters in New York and United Nations Offices following the flags of the member states."
The only other non-member observer state is the Vatican.
The resolution says observer states' flags will be flown within 20 days. Palestinian diplomats say they expect their flag to be raised on Sept. 30, the day Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses world leaders at the annual UNGA gathering.
