Japan resumed oil liftings from Iran this month after refiners Fuji Oil Co Ltd and Showa Shell Sekiyu KK loaded cargoes onto a tanker that is expected to arrive in Japan on Feb. 9

Japan's oil refining industry will continue to ask its government to seek an extension of the US sanctions waivers after the initial 180-day exemption is over in May, he said

Japanese refiners will likely be able to secure alternative supplies from other Middle Eastern countries, given their friendly relationships, even if the exemption is not extended, he said

Japan's Idemitsu Kosan Co Ltd plans to buy the remainder of its contractual volumes of Iranian oil between February and March, said Tsukioka, who also serves as Idemitsu's chairman

Idemitsu is likely to renew its term contracts for Iranian oil although details have not been decided, he said.