Japan's crude imports from Iran rise over past 5th month

Japan's oil imports from Iran jumped to 65 percent year on year in August, Japan's English language daily, the Japan Times, cited the Ministry of Economy and Trade as saying on Monday.

According to Japan's Ministry of Economy and Trade, the country imported a total of 3,393,000 barrels of oil, or 177,500 barrels per day in August.

Japan had earlier asked the United States to exempt Tokyo from the embargo, arguing Japanese refineries need Iran's crude.

Upon Washington's withdrawal from Iran nuclear deal in May, US officials announced Iranian crude buyers must stop importing the commodity from the country by November 4th, or else they will face US secondary sanctions.

The secondary sanctions on Iran's oil buyers, which run counter to international trade laws, have drawn negative reactions from different countries, some of which seek exemption.

Japan has also called on the US to exclude it from the sanctions.

Washington has so far rejected Japan's request, but Tokyo says it will keep trying until the negotiations bear fruit.

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