Japan

On February 14, 2020, the IPERS removed Kobe Steel from its Iran Prohibited Companies List.

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As of August 15, 2019, the state of Iowa listed Kobe Steel on its Iran scrutinized companies list.

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In 2017 the U.S. state of Michigan listed Kobe Steel as an Iran restricted company rendering Kobe Steel ineligible for investment and/or state contracting. 

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Kobelco is the imprint of the Kobe Steel Group, a Japanese metals company that also manufactures construction equipment. As of 2007, they were the 8th largest crane manufacturer in the world. Kobelco has a strong US presence through subsidiary Kobelco North America.

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Kobelco cranes and construction equipment are sold through an exclusive Iranian distributor, Persia Sanat Machine Co., which makes the full line of Kobelco construction equipment available for purchase in Iran.       

"The company was reported as potentially providing logistical services in Iran. In 2018 CalPERS designated the company as under review. In 2019 CalPERS changed the designation to “being monitored” because CalPERS’ initial screening has not identified the company as having involvement in the regions and/or activities targeted by the Act. CalPERS has maintained the company in “monitor” status for 2020. CalPERS continues to monitor the company for possible changes in status relevant to the Act."

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"In 2014, Kamigumi Co. Ltd. was identified by CalSTRS service providers as being a supplier of logistic services in Iran, including agreements with state-owned Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines. In 2014, CalSTRS designated Kamigumi Co. Ltd. as “Under Review” for potentially having ties to Iran. In 2015, CalSTRS designated Kamigumi Co. Ltd. as “Being Monitored.” In 2020, CalSTRS removed Kamigumi Co. Ltd. after further review of the company’s internal controls to prevent sanction violations."

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In 2014, CalSTRS designated Kamigumi Co. Ltd. as “Under Review” for potentially having ties to Iran. In 2015, CalSTRS designated Kamigumi Co. Ltd. as “Being Monitored” and maintained that designation in 2018. In 2014, Kamigumi Co. Ltd. was identified by CalSTRS service providers as being a supplier of logistic services in Iran including agreements with stateowned Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines.

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In 2018 the U.S. state of Michigan listed Kamigumi as an Iran restricted company rendering Kamigumi ineligible for investment and/or state contracting.

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"The IRISL signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Japan's Suzue Corporation and Kamigumi in Singapore, Iran's Maritime News Agency reported on April 4. Under the deal, the sides will survey grounds for cooperation in construction of dry ports and investment in Iran's port terminals. Once the preliminary studies are completed, the sides will sign an operational contract." (April 2017)

In 2019 JXTG was listed on the Texas Comptroller List of Companies Engaging in Scrutinized Business Operations in Iran.  

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In 2019, JXTG was listed as a divested security on the Michigan State Retirement System list for active business operations in Iran. 

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JXTG Holdings, Japan’s biggest oil refinery operator, has secured crude oil supplies from other countries such as Saudi Arabia to replace Iranian oil shipments that have been crimped by U.S. sanctions, its president said on Monday.

“We are not importing Iranian oil from May but there is no major impact,” JXTG Holdings President Tsutomu Sugimori, told an earnings news conference, when asked about the impact of tighter U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil.

“We have already secured supplies to replace Iranian oil from countries such as Saudi Arabia,” he said. (Reuters, "JXTG says gets supplies from Saudi, others to replace Iranian oil," 5/13/2019).

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JXTG Holdings Inc., a refiner, plans to follow government guidance, and if necessary will replace Iranian supplies with supplies from the Middle East, West Africa, and possibly the United States. (June 29, 2018)

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According to its 2017 Annual Report filed with the SEC: "During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, JXTG Nippon Oil & Energy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of JXTG Holdings, purchased 31 million barrels of crude oil from National Iranian Oil Company for a total purchase price of ¥144,046 million, out of a total of 415 million barrels of crude oil that it purchased during the same period, constituting approximately 7% of the total amount of crude oil that it purchased during the same period.

JXTG believes that the above transaction does not subject it or its affiliates to U.S. sanctions. JXTG Nippon Oil & Energy does not currently intend to cease purchasing crude oil from National Iranian Oil Company."

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In 2017 the U.S. state of Michigan, South Carolina and Tennessee listed JXTG as an Iran restricted company rendering JXTG ineligible for investment and/or state contracting.

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In 2015 JX Holdings was removed from Pennsylvania Treasury's List of Scrutinized Companies Determined as Having Involvement In Iran because the company's "involvement in purchases of crude oil falls uner the waivers granted by the U.S. government that meet Section (a)(2) of Act 44's expiration clause."
 

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In 2013, JX Holdings was added to the Pennsylvania Treasury's List of Scrutinized Companies Determined as Having Involvement in Iran because of Government oil-related activity. 
 

In 2017, the U.S. state of South Carolina listed Cosmo Energy on its state list of Companies Doing Business with the Iran rendering Cosmo ineligible for investment and/or state contracting.

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In 2016 and 2017 Tennessee used the South Carolina list of "Entities Ineligible to Contract with the State of South Carolina or any Political Subdivision of the State per the Iran Divestment Act of 2014, S.C. Code Ann." as its list of persons it determines engage in investment activities in Iran. Cosmo Energy was included on this list in 2016 and 2017. "Inclusion on this list would make a person ineligible to contract with the state of Tennessee, if a person ceases its engagement in investment activities in Iran, it may be removed from the list."

On February 16, 2021, Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System removed Japan Petroleum from its Iran Prohibited Companies List. 

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As of December 2020, Rhode Island continues to list Japan Petroleum as an Iran scrutinized company for active involvement of at least $50 million in Iran's energy sector. A minority subsidiary of the company Japan Drilling Co. Ltd lists a subsidiary in Iran as Pars Drilling Kish Co., Ltd. (Company Website, 10/2018). The company's minority-owned subsidiary, Japan Drilling Co. Ltd., is an offshore drilling contractor which operated in several countries including Iran. The subsidiary lists several companies in Iran as its clients including Iranian government owned entities (Factiva - MarketLine, 07/24/2015; Japan Drilling Co. website, 10/02/2018).

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As of August 15, 2019, the state of Iowa listed Japan Petroleum on its Iran scrutinized companies list.

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In 2018 the U.S. state of Iowa listed Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., on its Iran prohibited companies list rendering Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. ineligible for investment and/or state contracting.

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In 2017 the U.S. state of Rhode Island, South Carolina and Tennessee listed Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. on its Iran prohibited companies list rendering Japan Petroleum Exploration Co.ineligible for investment and/or state contracting.

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"Iran has named 29 international companies as being allowed to bid for oil and gas projects using the new, less restrictive Iran Petroleum Contract (IPC) model, including five Japanese firms, Inpex, Itochu Corp, Japan Petroleum Exploration (Japex), Mitsubishi Corp and Mitsui." (Reuters, "Japan's Inpex in running to develop major Iran oilfield: media," 1/4/2017).

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In 2014 JAPEX was removed from Pennsylvania Treasury's List of Scrutinized Companies Determined as Having Involvement in Iran as its business was considered to be "now past involvement." 

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In 2011, JAPEX was added to the Pennsylvania Treasury's List of Scrutinized Companies Determined as Having Involvement in Iran because of oil-related investment of US $20 million since 1996.

A subsidiary of Japan's Alconix Corporation.

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AMJ President, Shigeo Nakamura, is listed as a speaker for the 2nd Iran Mines and Mining Industries Summit, which will convene December 10-11, 2016 in Tehran.  (Iranian Contemporary International Conference and Fairs, “Brochure.”)

On its website, a Sojitz operating base in Tehran is listed under the company Sojitz Corporation Iran Ltd., at 5th Floor, No.82, Shahid Soltani St., Valiasr Ave. Tehran 19677-13961.

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The Department of Treasury OFAC settled with Sojitz on January 11, 2022 for $5,228,298 Related to Apparent Violations of the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations. 

"From August 2016 through May 2018, certain Sojitz HK employees acting contrary to companywide policies and procedures (“noncompliant employees”) caused Sojitz HK [Hong Kong] to purchase approximately 64,000 tons of Iranian-origin HDPE from a supplier in Thailand for resale to buyers in China (the “HDPE Trading”). Under the terms of the HDPE Trading arrangement, Sojitz HK paid the purchase price by wire transfer to the Thai supplier upon the supplier’s shipment of the HDPE to the Chinese buyers. Throughout the course of the HDPE Trading relationship, Sojitz HK made 60 separate U.S. dollar payments from its Hong Kong bank to the Thai supplier’s banks in Thailand, transferring a total of $75,603,411. Each of these U.S. dollar payments were processed and settled through multiple U.S. financial institutions, including the U.S. correspondent banks of the Hong Kong and Thai banks."

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"The company was reported as potentially seeking steel and petrochemical plan renovation opportunities in Iran. In 2018 CalPERS designated the company as under review. In 2019 CalPERS changed the designation to “being monitored” because CalPERS’ initial screening has not identified the company as having involvement in the regions and/or activities targeted by the Act. CalPERS has maintained the company in “monitor” status for 2020. CalPERS continues to monitor the company for possible changes in status relevant to the Act."

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In 2017, CalSTRS designated Sojitz as “Under Review” for potentially having ties to Iran. In 2018, CalSTRS removed Sojitz after reviewing the company’s business with Iran and internal controls to prevent sanction violations

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"Japan’s Sojitz Corporation – the country’s sixth largest trading enterprise – has signed a basic agreement to study the production of steel sheets in Iran’s southeastern port of Chabahar.  The Japanese company signed the agreement with Iran’s Industrial Development and Renovation Organization (IDRO) – the operations arm of the country’s Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Mine." (February 13, 2017)

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"National Petrochemical Company (NPC) has signed a memorandum of understating with Japan's Sojitz for feasibility studies on construction of a methanol to propylene conversion plant in Iran. Held at the locality of the NPC in Tehran, the signing ceremony of the MoU was attended by Managing Director of the NPC Marziyeh Shahdaei and Masaru Sato, Sojitz's senior representative on Saturday. Speaking during the ceremony, Marziyeh Shahdaei, who is also deputy petroleum minister in petrochemical affairs, said the project is of crucial importance for Iran given the vast gas reserves it is sitting atop. Sojitz has been active in Iran over 50 years and is the first foreign company active in Iran's petrochemical sector, said Sato during the meeting." (IRNA, "NPC, Sojitz of Japan sign MoU for petchem cooperation," 10/10/2016).

"Mitsui Chemicals reportedly has licensed technology for a petrochemical project in Iran. In 2019, CalSTRS identified Mitsui Chemicals as potentially having ties to Iran and began the review process. In 2020, CalSTRS removed Mitsui Chemicals after reviewing the company’s internal controls to prevent sanction violations."

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"A clutch of chemical companies have made, or are considering, investments in Iran... Several projects have been confirmed, and many others are in negotiations. Danish catalyst and process technology firm Haldor Topsoe is opening an office in Tehran and is planning a new methanol plant in Chabahar in southern Iran. Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk has comitted to building a manufacturing plant in Iran. Talks are reportedly underway with German chemical companies BASF and Linde, as well as Japan’s Mitsui Chemicals, regarding investing in petrochemical facilities in Assaluyeh (southern Iran). This site is part of the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone, where a huge petrochemical complex is being builit, close to one one of the biggest gas fields in the world. Iran’s National Petroleum Company (NPC) is also reportedly in negotiations with France’s Air Liquide to build a methanol-to-propylene plant, and the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade Insurance Services (SACE) has signed several agreements with Iranian banks and government bodies, which may have implications in petrochemical investment." (Chemistry World, “Sanction lift triggers investment in Iran,” 3/16/2016)

"Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk, the world's top insulin supplier, expects to be ahead of the pack now nuclear sanctions are lifted in Iran, thanks to a continuous presence and a pre-emptive investment plan. The country is an attractive target for Big Pharma seeking to sell new medicines to its large and growing population, but going in at ground level and securing good relations with authorities will be key, industry executives say... 'With the sanctions being lifted, we can operate more freely,' Jakob Riis, Novo's head of marketing told Reuters at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The Danish company has maintained a staff of around 130 in Iran through the sanctions era and it now plans to more than double that, adding 160 additional staff, following a decision in September to invest 70 million euros ($76 million) on a factory in the country. 'Novo has been there throughout. Now there are a lot of companies lining up to get into Iran and I think we are going to benefit from having been there for a while,' Riis said... Other drugmakers are actively pursuing the opportunity. 'It's a significant country,' said Christophe Weber, CEO of Takeda, Japan's biggest drugmaker. 'We have a team assessing the situation.' ... Also ahead of the curve, Indian generics maker Cipla set up a manufacturing plant in Iran in 2014." (Reuters, “Novo aims to be ahead of pharma pack with Iran investment,” 1/21/2016)

On February 14, 2020, Chiyoda Corp was removed from the Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System Iran Prohibited Companies List. 

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As of August 15, 2019, the state of Iowa listed Chiyoda Corp on its Iran scrutinized companies list.

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"Sanctions are also expected to hit a $3.6bn deal between Iran, Hyundai and Japan’s Chiyoda Corporation to construct the Siraf Refining Park in the southeastern coastal province of Bushehr." (Global Construction Review, "Sanctions hit $5.6bn worth of Korean refinery projects in Iran," 6/4/2018).

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Chiyoda corporation was identified as potentially agreeing to renovate refineries in Iran. In 2017, CalSTRS designated Chiyoda Corporation as “Under Review” for potentially having ties to Iran. In 2018, CalSTRS removed Chiyoda Corporation after reviewing the company’s business in Iran and internal controls to prevent sanction violations.

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In 2017, the state of Iowa listed Chiyoda Corporation on its Iran scrutinized companies list rendering Chiyoda Corporation ineligible for investment and/or state contracting.

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July 2017 - According to state-run IRNA News Agency of Iran on July 17, the Korea-Japan consortium consisting of Daelim Industrial, Hyundai E&C, and Chiyoda of Japan, signed an HOA on the construction of a US$ 3 oil refinery in the Siraf area, Bushehr Province of Iran.

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"Iran plans to increase its refining capacity for crude and condensate by more than 70 percent within the next four years as it works to improve the quality of fuel sold on the domestic market and wean itself off imported gasoline... The refineries to be upgraded are at Isfahan, Tabriz, Tehran, Bandar Abbas and Abadan, Kazemi said in the interview on Wednesday. The government will pay for Abadan plant's modernization and is seeking investors to fund the others, he said. Japanese engineering company Chiyoda Corp. is conducting a feasibility study with Mitsui & Co. on the Bandar Abbas project, said Masaru Akamatsu, a Chiyoda spokesman. Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry is paying for part of the study, which is scheduled for completion by the end of March, Akamatsu said. The modernization contract is worth about 300 billion yen ($2.8 billion), Japanese broadcaster NHK reported in February." (Bloomberg, “Iran Plans Oil-Refinery Expansion to Cut Gasoline Imports,” 6/12/2016)