Japan: No Need to Ban Iran Oil Exports

Japan will propose that the international community refrain from imposing a ban on Iranian oil exports in the first stage of any sanctions that might be imposed should Tehran not halt its uranium enrichment, government sources said.

Japan will call on the international community to impose the sanctions in stages, and to lift the measures as soon as Iran suspends its uranium enrichment, the sources said Sunday.

Last month, the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution demanding Iran suspend enrichment by Aug. 31 or face possible sanctions.

Japan also hopes the international community will stand united in imposing possible sanctions against Iran, as the punitive measures will have more bark than bite if they are only enforced by some U.N. member countries, the sources said.