Iran was reelected to a seat on a UN commission on population and development Thursday, drawing an angry reaction from the United States, which cited Tehran's opposition to women's rights.
US Ambassador Susan Rice said the United States was “deeply disappointed” that the UN Economic and Social Council voted to extend Iran's membership in the council's Commission on Population and Development.
“We vigorously opposed Iran's last-minute candidacy to extend its current membership, which dates back to 1996,” she said in a statement.
“In this forum and elsewhere, Iran has made clear its opposition to women's rights and the freedom for women to make basic choices for themselves,” Rice said, adding “Iran continues to deprive women of basic human rights.”
Iran suffered a setback in November when it was kicked off the board of UN Women, the new UN agency devoted to advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women.
