Reuters- Japanese oil refiners may have to end Iranian crude oil loading from Oct. 1 if Japan’s government does not secure an exemption from U.S. sanctions that would allow them to continue imports from the Middle Eastern nation, said the president of the Petroleum Association of Japan (PAJ), Takashi Tsukioka.

* If payments to Iran cannot continue after a 180-day “wind-down period” ending on Nov. 4, it is possible that Japanese buyers of Iranian oil will have to make their last order for Iranian oil in August for September-loading cargoes, said Tsukioka, who is also chairman of Japan’s second-biggest refiner, Idemitsu Kosan Co.

* That is because the payment for October-loading cargoes would be made in November, he told a monthly news conference on Friday. (Reporting by Osamu Tsukimori)