The United States decided to exempt Japan and 10 European Union nations from Iran sanctions praising them for reducing dependency on the Islamic republic’s oil

The United States decided to exempt Japan and 10 European Union nations from Iran sanctions praising them for reducing dependency on the Islamic republic’s oil.

Ordered by Congress in December, the sanctions aim to punish countries that continue to buy oil from Iran.

However, China, India and South Korea, who are considered the major buyers of Iranian oil, were not exempt.

China, the biggest energy user in the world, and India have so far refused to join the Western actions.

Japan on Wednesday said China and India should reverse course and cut their Iranian oil imports as part of international efforts against Tehran’s nuclear program, according to AFP.
  
Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba's comments come on the day resource-poor Japan said it will continue to cut its imports of crude from Tehran "considerably"."I think we have to communicate and exchange opinions well with China and India, so that sanctions (on Iran) will work more effectively," Gemba told reporters in Tokyo.