Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda says Japan is trying to negotiate a waiver from U.S. penalties on companies doing business with Iran. He says Tokyo is seeking other suppliers to offset a reduction of Iranian oil imports.
Noda said Friday that Japan hopes to get a waiver for Japanese financial institutions doing business with the Iranian central bank. The U.S. imposed the penalties to pressure Iran on its suspected nuclear weapons program. Iran says those programs are for peaceful energy production.
Japan relies on imports for almost all its energy.
About 9 percent of its oil comes from Iran. Japan has reduced that amount by 40 percent in five years.
Noda said he shares concerns about Iran’s nuclear programs but supports a diplomatic solution.
