Japan Seeks US Sanctions Waiver

Japan has asked the United States to prevent a possible adverse impact of its sanctions on Japanese companies seeking crude oil from Iran, Japan's Foreign Ministry said on Friday. The country has called on the United States to give consideration to Japanese companies during the second round of a bilateral meeting between Japanese and American officials on US sanctions against Iran, Chron.com reported. The ministry released on Friday the outline of the meeting held in Washington on Wednesday and Thursday. Japan and the United States did not reach a conclusion on the sanctions waiver in the latest meeting and will continue discussions. The meeting was attended by Hiroshi Oka, director general of the ministry’s Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau, as well as other officials from Japan's Finance Ministry, the Financial Services Agency and the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry. From the United States, state department and treasury department officials participated in the meeting.