TOKYO, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Japan's announcement that it has imposed additional sanctions on Iran over its nuclear policies is a welcome action, U.S. officials say.
The sanctions announced Friday include a freeze on the assets of those linked to nuclear development and stricter supervision of financial transactions with Iran, Tokyo's Kyodo News said Friday.
In a statement Friday U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner applauded the announcement.
"The United States welcomes the announcement by Japan of new sanctions on Iran that implement U.N. Security Council 1929," the statement said. "They mark a significant step forward in the international community's efforts to combat proliferation and prevent Iran's development of nuclear weapons."
Among the additional sanctions are restrictions on new Japanese investment in oil and gas development in Iran, although Tokyo did not impose any import restrictions on Japan's import of crude oil.
The new measures were approved by Prime Minister Naoto Kan and are in addition to sanctions announced in August, Kyodo said.
