Iran, Japan's fourth biggest supplier of crude oil, has reacted sharply to Tokyo slapping new sanctions on it, saying that such moves will affect the national interests of the very countries that have taken the punitive measures.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told local media that the latest measures would cause problems for Japanese companies as they will lose out to rivals on Iranian exports.
He blamed the United States for exerting pressure on other governments to impose sanctions on Iran. Terming the measures "illegal and unfair," the Iranian diplomat insisted that Tehran was "interested to use their legitimate right of having peaceful nuclear technology."
Japan, a country having strong trade ties with Iran, announced additional sanctions on Friday, based on the U.N. Security Council resolution passed in August, over its disputed nuclear program.
It included a freeze on Japan-based assets of 88 Iranian entities, including many of Iran's banks such as Bank Mellat, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, and 24 individuals of proliferation concern.
Japan joins other nations which have also enforced such sanctions on Iran for its failure to meet its international obligations, including the European Union, Australia, Canada, and Norway.
These sanctions, combined with Japan's establishment of a financial authorization system for all transactions with Iran, prohibition of the transfer of proliferation sensitive dual-use items to Iran and of any new investment or sale of goods, services, and technology to Iran's energy sector, will deepen Iran's isolation from the international financial, industrial and energy sectors.
Washington welcomed Tokyo's move, and called upon other countries to follow suit in support of the international community's efforts to put additional pressure on Iran's leaders.
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June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.