WASHINGTON (AFP) ― The United States said Friday it would extend exemptions for European Union nations and Japan from tough sanctions that recently took effect against any nation that buys Tehran’s oil.

Under a law meant to pressure the clerical regime over its contested nuclear program, the United States bars banks from nations that buy Iran’s key money-maker from doing business in the world’s largest economy.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced she was extending for another 180 days exemptions first granted on March 20 to Belgium, Britain, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain.

“We have brought significant pressure to bear on the Iranian regime, and we will continue to work with our partners to ratchet up the pressure on Iran to meet its international obligations,” Clinton said in a statement.

Clinton had also issued 180-day exemptions in June to major emerging economies including China and India after they begrudgingly cut back on Iranian oil despite their distaste at being pressured by U.S. domestic law.

With the exemptions coming up for review, Clinton called on China to cut its oil purchases from Iran even more during a visit last week to Beijing, officials said.

Clinton praised a resolution approved Thursday by the board of the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency that expressed “serious concern that Iran continues to defy” Security Council calls to suspend uranium enrichment.

“We welcome the resolve of the international community to make clear the onus is on Iran to abide by its international obligations, honor its commitments to the IAEA and prove that its intentions are peaceful,” she said.

Iran says that its uranium enrichment is for peaceful purposes. Israel has led charges that the Islamic regime is seeking a nuclear bomb and has not ruled out a military strike, leading US President Barack Obama’s administration to step up economic pressure in hopes of managing the issue peacefully.

The European Union completely banned oil imports from Iran as of July 1.

Japan, a close U.S. ally, has also reduced imports despite energy shortfalls and historically cordial relations with Iran.

Clinton said Japan’s efforts were “especially notable considering the extraordinary energy challenges” in the world’s third largest economy since last year’s Fukushima disaster resulted in the shutdown of nuclear plants.