The Yomiuri Shimbun

Japan has asked the United States to prevent a possible adverse impact on Japanese companies’ activities in connection with the U.S. request to Japan and other countries to stop crude oil imports from Iran, the Foreign Ministry said Friday.

Japan called on the United States to give consideration to Japanese companies during the second round of a bilateral meeting between Japanese and U.S.

officials on U.S. sanctions against Iran. The ministry released on Friday the outline of the meeting, which was held in Washington on Wednesday and Thursday.

Japan and the United States did not reach a conclusion on the matter at the latest meeting and will continue discussions, according to the ministry.

The meeting was attended by Hiroshi Oka, director general of the ministry’s Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau, as well as other Japanese officials from the Finance Ministry, the Financial Services Agency and the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry. From the United States, State Department and Treasury Department officials participated in the meeting.