Chinese oil imports from Iran reduced

China has reduced imports of Iranian oil and may avoid sanctions that come into force on June 28, ITAR-TASS reports.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday that states continuing operations with the Iranian Central Bank will lose access to financial operations with the US.

India, Japan and South Korea have reduced oil imports from Iran. Clinton said 10 days ago that Turkey, South Africa, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Taiwan would not face sanctions. No talks concerned China then, although it purchases a fifth of Iranian oil exports.

11 out of 23 states have avoided sanctions in March: Japan, Belgium, UK, Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, France and the Czech Republic.

Washington is trying to convince Iran to scrap its nuclear program by encouraging other states to stop purchasing its oil. The UN Security Council and Germany continue diplomatic talks with Iran.