Iran on Friday failed to win a non-permanent seat on the powerful UN Security Council after losing out to Japan.

In a vote in the General Assembly, which includes all member nations of the world body, Japan won 158 votes against 32 for Iran, the assembly's president Miguel d'Escoto of Nicaragua said.

Asia has two non-permanent seats on the 15-nation Security Council, on top of the permanent seat held by China.

'It's a comprehensive defeat, a thrashing and it's an important signal from the United Nations membership,' said John Sawers, the British ambassador to the world body.

'Had Iran, by some massive error or misjudgment come on the Security Council, it would have obstructed the effective work of the council,' he said.

Deputy US Ambassador Alejandro Wolff said: 'It's encouraging and important for Iran to understand that its continued violation of international, binding resolutions of the Security Council is reflected in this very poor showing,' he said.

'Hopefully, they will understand that this means that there is no support from the international community for that type of behaviour,' Wolff said.

Iran is under UN sanctions for refusing to comply to Security Council demands to suspend nuclear enrichment, amid fears - denied by Tehran - that it is developing nuclear weapons.

Austria and Turkey beat Iceland in the battle for the two non-permanent European seats on the council. The other two seats went to Mexico, which will represent Latin America, and Uganda, which will represent Africa.

In the secret ballot, candidates were required to win a two-thirds majority of members voting.