WASHINGTON DC– The United States began enforcing its new financial sanctions targeting financial institutions in countries that import crude oil from Iran in a bid to pressure Tehran to abandon its suspected nuclear weapons program.

While Japan and many other oil importers have already been exempted from the sanctions for at least 180 days due to their efforts to significantly reduce imports of Iranian oil, Washington has yet to reveal its stance on China, the largest oil importer from Iran.

Asked if the U.S. government has decided what to do with countries that have not received a waiver, particularly China, a State Department official told reporters Wednesday, “I don’t have anything to announce today.” (PNA/Kyodo)