Related News:
Japan Suspends Iran Energy Investments, Freezes Assets in New Sanctions
Japan said it is suspending new oil and gas investments in Iran and freezing the assets of 88 organizations and 24 individuals in its latest round of sanctions for the Middle Eastern country’s nuclear program.
“We’ve decided to add more sanctions to prevent nuclear proliferation and development,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku told reporters today in Tokyo. “It’s important for the international community to unify pressure on Iran to make a wise decision while keeping open the window for dialogue.”
The United Nations in June passed a fourth round of restrictions against Iran for refusing to suspend its enrichment of uranium, which can produce reactor fuel or bomb-grade material. Iran denies it plans to make weapons and says the enrichment is for peaceful purposes, such as fueling a medical- research reactor in Tehran.
The Obama administration two weeks ago concluded talks with eight countries including Japan about ways to strengthen financial sanctions against Iran. Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s high commissioner in charge of foreign affairs, urged China yesterday to help make a new round of EU sanctions on Iran effective.
Iran is Japan’s third-biggest supplier of crude oil. Japan imported $9.3 billion worth of goods from the country in 2009, almost all in fuel, while exporting $1.7 billion in automobiles and machines, according to the Japan External Trade Organization.
To contact the reporter on this story: Takashi Hirokawa in Tokyo at thirokawa@bloomberg.net; Sachiko Sakamaki in Tokyo at Ssakamaki1@bloomberg.net
Rate These Stories
Rate this Page