U.S. asks Japan to stop Iran oil development

http://www.arabtimesonline.com/arabtimes/breakingnews/view.asp?msgID=11441

TOKYO, March 23 (Reuters) - The United States has informally asked Japan to suspend its plans to develop an Iranian oil field as part of world efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, a Japanese newspaper said on Thursday.

Resource-poor Japan has been planning to develop Iran's Azadegan oil field, estimated to hold the world's second-biggest single oil reserves, despite objections from Washington.

The report comes a week after Japan's largest refiner, Nippon Oil Corp., said it would cut its imports of Iranian crude due to rising risks associated with the country, the first hint that Tehran's nuclear dispute is affecting its vital oil trade.

According to U.S. government sources quoted by the daily Sankei Shimbun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick and Undersecretary of State Robert Joseph have informally asked Japan to at least temporarily suspend its plans to develop Azadegan.

It's no wonder that that the US is now the most hated country on the planet.

Thanks bush