U.S.President Donald Trump (AP)

US ends Iran oil sanction waivers for Japan, 7 others

WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump's administration on Thursday ended waivers that had allowed Japan and seven other parties to import oil from Iran without facing American sanctions.
The action is intended to wipe out Iran's oil exports as part of U.S.-led efforts to compel Tehran to give up nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

But it is unknown how China -- which opposes Washington's reimposition of sanctions on Tehran -- and other major buyers, such as India and Turkey, will respond to the end of the 180-day waivers. Those for South Korea, Greece, Italy and Taiwan also ceased.

Japanese wholesalers have found new suppliers after halting oil imports from Iran. The Middle East country once accounted for about 5 percent of Japan's crude oil imports.

The United States has asked other major producers such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to ensure sufficient supply reaches the global market.

Last November, the Trump administration banned countries from importing Iranian oil, but granted eight of them a waiver through Wednesday.

Washington also slapped sanctions on Tehran's energy, banking, shipbuilding and shipping sectors.

After withdrawing the United States from a 2015 Iranian nuclear deal, the administration began reinstating sanctions on the Islamic republic last August.

Under the deal involving Iran and six powers -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States -- the Islamic republic agreed to curb its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190502/p2g/00m/0in/034000c