Japan's Iranian oil imports surged to the highest level in 14 months in May, when the country 

imported an average of 211,097 b/d, up 31.5% year on year, preliminary data from the Minis

try of Economy, Trade and Industry Friday showed. 

Imports of Iranian oil in May had jumped on the back of a last-minute rise in demand ahead of 

the anticipated US announcement on its decision on Iran sanctions. 

US President Donald Trump said May 8 the US would withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal and

 re-impose  sanctions  that  have  been f rozen  since  January  2016  as  part  of  the  Joint 

Comprehensive Plan of Action. 

Iranian crude imports, which accounted for 7% of Japan's total crude imports of 2.98 million b/d 

in May, were up close to seven times from 30,910 b/d in April. 

Japan's  Iranian  oi l imports  in  May  were  highest  since  the country imported an average of 

224,604 b/d in March 2017, according to METI data.