US lauds Japan for new Iran sanctions
The United States praised Japan yesterday for imposing new sanctions on Iran that include an asset freeze and tighter restrictions on financial transactions, part of a global response to Tehran's contested nuclear program.
"The United States welcomes the announcement by Japan of new sanctions on Iran that implement UN Security Council 1929," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said in a joint statement.
"They mark a significant step forward in the international community's efforts to combat proliferation and prevent Iran' development of nuclear weapons," they said.
"Japan joins other responsible nations that have also implemented such sanctions on Iran for its failure to meet its international obligations, including the European Union, Australia, Canada and Norway."
The steps come a month after Tokyo approved punitive measures in line with a June UN Security Council resolution which slapped a fourth set of sanctions on Iran over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment work.
Japan's new sanctions include a freeze on the assets of 88 companies, banks, state agencies and other entities and of 24 people linked to Iran's nuclear program, which many nations fear masks a drive for atomic weapons.
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