Global Geopolitical Series: Japan seeking U.S. sanctions waiver on Iran

Many countries including the United States’ closest ally in Asia, Japan are not ready to give in to U.S. sanctions on Iran, especially when other partners to the agreement like the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, China, and France are upholding it and the deal watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are certifying Iran’s compliance to the agreement. Many see the United States’ sanctions as a violation of International rights to do business with Iran for economic benefits to their own economies as a violation of United Nations charter.

Japan’s economy, trade, and industry minister confirmed Hiroshige Seko that the Japanese government was pressing the US to let Japan continue to import Iranian oil while leaving refiners to make their own decisions over their imports amid looming sanctions. While the government doesn’t intend to issue import guidelines to refiners with regard to Iranian oil, but intends to add pressure on the U.S. government for letting the Iran oil imports to continue for economic benefits as the Asian giant is one of the biggest importers of oil and imports almost 80 percent of its energy needs after a collapse of nuclear-powered energy in the aftermath of 2011 Fukushima incident triggered by the tsunami.

It is, however, unlikely that Japan would succeed in pursuing the Trump administration as the President has taken an extremely tough stance towards Iran.