"Iran congratulates the Palestinian nation on the release of prisoners held captive by the illegitimate Zionist regime"

Iran's foreign ministry welcomed the historic swap deal that saw the release on Tuesday of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli occupation soldier Gilad Shalit.

"Iran congratulates the Palestinian nation on the release of prisoners held captive by the illegitimate Zionist regime," spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters in a regular weekly briefing.

Under the deal between Hamas and Israel, 1,027 Palestinian prisoners were being released in exchange for Shalit, who was held captive in Gaza for more than five years.

Mehmanparast said Iran hoped one day to see "the return of the land of Palestine to its true owners."