Iranian oil cut a source of worry

Japan must now tackle the difficult task of finding an alternative crude oil supplier following a decision to gradually reduce crude oil imports from Iran, which supplies 10 percent of the nation's crude oil. The government officially informed U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner of the decision Thursday. The United States had pressured Japan to reduce Iran-produced crude over allegations that the Middle Eastern nation is engaged in programs to develop nuclear weapons. At a joint press conference with Geithner on Thursday, Finance Minister Jun Azumi said, "We can't overlook the problem of Iran's nuclear development. We want to take actions to decrease oil imports [from Iran] at an early date in an organized manner." (Yomiuri)