U.S. Asks Japan to Halt Iran Oil Buying
TOKYO (Bloomberg) - The U.S. has asked Japan to completely halt oil imports from Iran, going beyond the reductions that were demanded when sanctions were imposed earlier this decade, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
While American government officials made the request during talks with Japanese counterparts in Tokyo this week, no decision has been reached and discussions will continue later, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the matter is confidential.
When U.S. President Donald Trump decided to renew sanctions against Iran last month, his administration gave its allies 180 days to reduce purchases from the OPEC producer.
Japan, Asia’s fourth-largest buyer of Iranian supplies, received 5.3 percent of its oil requirements from Iran, or 172,000 barrels a day, in 2017, according to data from the Asian nation’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
While American government officials made the request during talks with Japanese counterparts in Tokyo this week, no decision has been reached and discussions will continue later, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the matter is confidential.
When U.S. President Donald Trump decided to renew sanctions against Iran last month, his administration gave its allies 180 days to reduce purchases from the OPEC producer.
Japan, Asia’s fourth-largest buyer of Iranian supplies, received 5.3 percent of its oil requirements from Iran, or 172,000 barrels a day, in 2017, according to data from the Asian nation’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.