UN Body Supports Iran's Membership despite US Opposition http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9003070359

The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) endorsed a renewal of Iran's membership despite the US and Canada's strong opposition. The two countries were trying to halt Iran's membership through diplomatic maneuvers, yet the ECOSOC member states have reached an agreement to extend Iran's membership in the organization.The opposition from Canada and the US came since Tehran's standpoint is different from Washington and Ottawa's positions.Washington requested that the issue be put to a vote after envoys of the US and Canada failed to block the renewal of Iran's membership.

The majority of the 54 ECOSOC member states voted in favor of renewing Iran's membership. Iran's Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Eshaq Ale-Habib has declared prior to poll that the Islamic Republic of Iran would work actively in international discussions and debates whether it could join the UN body or not. ECOSOC operates as the main forum for discussing global economic, social and financial matters. Iran has been an active member of the UN body that has resisted attempts by western countries to bring up "unethical" issues at the UN council.