WEB DESK
A US State Department official says the waivers for the ban on oil imports from Iran will be limited to 180 days.
The State Department’s Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, was speaking to reporters on Friday. Washington is to re-impose economic sanctions on Iran on Monday.
The administration of President Donald Trump recently revealed a plan to issue waivers to 8 countries so they can keep buying Iranian oil.
Japanese government sources told NHK that Washington informed Tokyo that Japan will be granted an exemption. Bloomberg News reports that the 8 nations also include South Korea and India.
Hook said the US government is not looking to grant additional waivers at the end of the 180-day period. He said the US is being careful to advance its economic pressure campaign without increasing the price of oil.
Hook added that the US government projects the global oil supply will exceed demand next year. He indicated that if this happens, the US would demand that the 8 nations stop importing Iranian oil as soon as possible.