Iran has failed in its bid to secure a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. The Islamic Republic is under Security Council sanctions and, in voting at the General Assembly, its candidacy was not expected to succeed.

But it was another story for Turkey. It easily won a place on the UN’s main decision-making body. Mexico and Uganda were also elected.

Iran was vying for an Asian seat becoming vacant in January. But heavyweight Japan put paid to those hopes, with 158 votes compared to only 32 for Tehran. Britain’s UN Ambassador Sir John Sawers said Iran had been “thrashed.”

The fifth place up for grabs went to Austria. Along with Turkey, it beat Iceland in a three-way contest for two European seats.

The newly-elected countries will form half of the UN’s temporary members.The permanent members, which have veto power, are the US, Russia, Britain, France and China.

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