Japan has resumed importing oil from Iran, according to the governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) quoted by local media on Monday.
According to state news agency IRNA's report, Abdol Naser Hemmati wrote on his Instagram page on Sunday that after China, South Korea, India and Turkey, Japan also resumed the process of importing Iranian oil.
Japan is among the eight countries granted exemptions by the U.S. in November 2018, letting them continue to buy Iranian oil on a temporary basis, after Washington reimposed sanctions on Iran's energy, banking and shipping industries.
The other countries granted waivers are China, India, Greece, Italy, Taiwan, Turkey and South Korea.
Last May, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the country's withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal between world powers and Iran, and the re-imposition of sanctions against the country.
Following the U.S. pullout from the agreement -- formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) --, the first phase of sanctions against Iran hit the automotive, banking, and mining sectors in August.
The second phase of sanctions, targeting the country's energy sector, shipbuilding, shipping and financial sectors, came into effect on Nov 5.
India, South Korea and Japan are the three major customers of Iranian crude oil in Asia.
By Hale Turkes
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr