China was re-elected on Wednesday to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the coordinating body for the economic and social work of UN agencies and funds, for a three-year term.
The UN General Assembly elected 20 new members to the ECOSOC, who will begin their terms on January 1, 2026.
The elected countries are China, India, Lebanon, and Turkmenistan from the Asia-Pacific states; Burundi, Chad, Mozambique, and Sierra Leone from the African states; Ecuador, Peru, and Saint Kitts and Nevis from the Latin America and Caribbean states; Croatia, Russia, and Ukraine from the Eastern European states; Australia, Finland, Norway, and Türkiye from the Western European and other states.
Among them, China, Australia, Finland, and Türkiye were re-elected.
In the first round of voting, 17 countries were selected, with one seat remaining vacant in the Eastern European states group. Russia then secured the seat in a restrictive round against Belarus.
In a by-election for rotation within the Western European and other states group, Germany was elected to a one-year term beginning January 1, 2026, replacing Liechtenstein. The United States was elected to a two-year term starting January 1, 2026, replacing Italy.
The ECOSOC, as one of the organs established by the UN Charter, oversees economic, social, developmental, cultural, and educational affairs within the UN. Comprising 54 member states, one-third of its membership is elected annually by the UN General Assembly for rotating terms.
China has maintained continuous membership in ECOSOC since 1972 and has actively contributed to the council's work throughout its tenure.
China re-elected to UN Economic and Social Council for three-year term
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that Iran has obtained extensive documents and evidence linking the recent unrest across the country to the U.S. and Israel, noting that Mossad agents attempted to direct such "terrorist acts."
Araghchi said at a press conference in Tehran that since Dec 28, 2025, Iran had seen peaceful demonstrations organized by industry associations and economic professional. In the following days, more participants joined, and the situation gradually escalated from peaceful rallies into violent clashes.
Beginning on Jan 8, terrorists and armed groups carrying weapons entered protest sites and opened fire on police and civilians, with the aim of steering demonstrations toward violence, bloodshed and chaos, he said.
"Israeli media reports are rife with claims that Israel has designed and conducted operations in Iran. Mr. [Mike] Pompeo, who was Trump's CIA director, said on his X that 'Happy New Year to every Iranian in the streets. Also to every Mossad agent walking beside them.' This clearly shows that Mossad agents attempted to direct such terrorist acts," the minister said. Addressing military threats from the U.S. and Israel, Araghchi said Iran does not seek war but is fully prepared to face up to war. He added that Iran is ready for serious and pragmatic negotiations with the U.S., but the talks must be based on fairness, equality and mutual respect, rather than unilateral pressure or directives from Washington.
On the same day, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei condemned the U.S. and Israel at a regular press briefing in Tehran. He said the two countries have made "extensive interventionist remarks" regarding Iran's situation, saying such statements are intended to foment chaos, violence and instability.
The spokesman said Iran is closely monitoring the development of the situation and remains fully prepared, warning that Iran's armed forces will respond to any act of aggression by its enemies.
Mossad agents attempt to direct terrorist acts: Iranian FM
