The US will not pass sanctions against states that had sufficient reduction of oil purchases from Iran. The list includes Belgium, UK, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Japan, RBC reports.
Their financial institutions will not undergo special limitations for 180 days. Discussions of sanctions may be prolonged.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton noted that the states had to reconsider demands for energy in the critical economic moment and find a replacement for Iranian oil.
US President Barack Obama will decide on passing new sanctions against states continuing to import Iranian oil by March 30. China, India and South Korea will be affected by his decision, since they are the main importers of Iranian oil.
Asian states need to reduce oil imports from Tehran by June 28, otherwise they will face sanctions.
The US and EU passed sanctions against Iran, ending all deals with financial institutions and companies cooperating with the Iranian Central Bank. The EU banned petroleum imports from Iran.
Iran is the second largest petroleum state in OPEC, after Saudi Arabia. The European Union purchases 20% of Iranian crude oil. China purchases the same amount. OPEC says that Iran makes $71.6 billion from oil exports annually.
