Japan 'very concerned' over Iran tension

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Japan's foreign minister, on a Gulf tour to seek assurances over oil supplies, said Tuesday that Tokyo was "very concerned" by escalating tensions with Iran and called for a diplomatic solution.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), meanwhile, gave assurances it would make up for a shortfall in oil supplies to Japan.
"Japan is very concerned about the latest developments," Koichiro Gemba said of the West's standoff with Tehran, which has threatened to block the strategic Strait of Hormuz if oil sanctions are imposed over its nuclear programme.
"We believe that we should solve the problem diplomatically and peacefully. That is why dialogue with Iran should continue," the Japanese foreign minister told reporters in Abu Dhabi through an Arabic-language interpreter.
"Iran should not incite troubles, and nothing should affect security in the Strait of Hormuz," he said.

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TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan pledged on Thursday to take concrete action to cut Iranian oil imports in response to an appeal for support from visiting U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, as Washington steps up efforts to sanction Tehran over its disputed nuclear program.
Geithner welcomed Tokyo's cooperation, an encouraging sign for U.S. foreign policy after China rebuffed U.S. sanctions aimed at starving Iran of the oil revenues that provide the country of 74 million people with vital economic support.
Iran faces the prospects of cutbacks in oil sales to its top buyers including China and Japan. The European Union, a major buyer, has committed to banning imports of Iranian oil.
Japan's Finance Minister Jun Azumi said Iranian crude makes up 10 percent of Japan's overall oil imports.
"We would like to take action concretely to further reduce (that) in a planned manner," he said after meeting Geithner.
"On the other hand, we need some time in non-crude oil related areas, so I asked the Secretary to take Japan's situation into consideration."

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