U.S. urging Japan to buy less oil from Iran

Friday 23rd October, 12:20 AM JST

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Latest 15 of 19 Total Comments Show All

Yelnats at 03:18 PM JST - 23rd October

“We are telling them not to engage in business as usual,”

Huh? Is Japan the 51st state of the US?
Altria at 03:21 PM JST - 23rd October

Get your sticky beak out of Japan's business, Yanksters.
cooperstown at 03:56 PM JST - 23rd October

Russia played Obama for a fool and now Japan is being asked to help him save face.

Obama makes me embarrassed to be American at times.
YuriOtani at 08:48 PM JST - 23rd October

Would rather Japan buy oil from Iran than Russia. Iran is not a known threat to Japan and providing Russia with money is not in our best interests.
eigonosensei at 11:08 PM JST - 23rd October

Seems the U.S. is giving Japan a choice. Either side with the U.S. or with the enemy. I've always thought that Japan should not be friends with any country with a huge arsenal of nukes. It's like being friends with someone that once beat the crap out of you with a baseball bat and they still walk around brandishing a Louisville Slugger (while still showing violent tendencies..).
usaexpat at 11:37 PM JST - 23rd October

On this one Japan should say no, Japan has always had reasonably good relations with Iran and doesn't need to cave to our wrongheaded policies. Maybe Obama would rather Japan bought more oil from our good friends the Saudis. Now tell me again where were most of the 9-11 hijackers from again? Hint it wasn't Iran.
bdiego at 04:45 AM JST - 24th October

This is only going to be symbolic. When Japan stops buying, by definition someone else will take their place. That said, symbolism does translate into practical results such as diplomatic posturing.
YuriOtani at 04:55 AM JST - 24th October

Why would Japan stop buying oil from Iran? We need to get our oil from somewhere and they furnish a good product. The Americans will not determine Japans foreign policy. The harder they squeeze the more will slip through their fingers. Think the real reason is for Japan to drive up the cost of Saudi oil and make more money for a select group of investors.
sfjp330 at 05:07 AM JST - 24th October

Why would Japan stop buying oil from Iran? We need to get our oil from somewhere and they furnish a good product. The Americans will not determine Japans foreign policy.

If this is a case, with Japan with substantial investment by oil giant Nippon Oil in Iraq and Iran, send you own troops to protect your sea lanes and oil fields for oil that is going to Japan. U.S. should stay out of Japanese oil investment areas and let it burn if attacked by terrorist.
sharky1 at 06:06 AM JST - 24th October

Japan, as a sovereign nation, needs to act in it's own best interest. If complying with Obama's request is in Japan's best interest, then good, if not, then Japan should continue to purchase oil where it can at the best price. I would say at this point, Iran should offer incentives to Japan for continued business by lowering the price of oil.
ebisen at 04:02 PM JST - 27th October

US is actually right on this one.

Japan is supposed to be a peace loving country, and surely should not do any business with a nuclear oriented Iran. Japan is really quick to complain about nuclear proliferation, how about also acting accordingly? I guess it is difficult to resist the cheap prices Iran offers, nuclear bombs or not...
cleo at 04:48 PM JST - 27th October

Japan is supposed to be a peace loving country, and surely should not do any business with a nuclear oriented Iran.

But doing business with a nuclear-oriented America, UK, France, China etc etc is OK?
sfjp330 at 02:31 AM JST - 28th October

But doing business with a nuclear-oriented America, UK, France, China etc etc is OK? Cleo:

America and China really don't need Japan for their stabilization of their economy. Why do you think Japan has 20,000 companies in China, doing $250 billion dollars in bilateral trade. Japan cannot do it on it's own and their economy will collapse if they don't have China and U.S..
nigelboy at 03:41 AM JST - 28th October

America and China really don't need Japan for their stabilization of their economy.

China and Japan really don't need America for their stablization of their economy.

America and Japan really don't need China for their stablization of their economy.

blah blah blah.

Didn't I tutor you couple month ago about trade/GDP ratio where it was CHINA who was dependent on trade?
sfjp330 at 05:57 AM JST - 28th October

Didn't I tutor you couple month ago about trade/GDP ratio where it was CHINA who was dependent on trade?

Hey Professor, blah blah blah