Reuters:

* S.Korea’s Aug imports to fall to zero, 1st time since Aug 2012

* S.Korean gov’t in talks with U.S. to get exemption on Iran crude

* Japan mulls buying Iranian oil through September loading (Adds details, chart, background)

By Jane Chung and Osamu Tsukimori

SEOUL/TOKYO, July 6 (Reuters) - South Korea will not lift any Iranian crude and condensate in July, halting all shipments for the first time in six years amid U.S. pressure to cut all imports of Iranian oil from November, three sources familiar with the matter said on Friday.

Japanese customers, however, are continuing to import for now, with multiple buyers considering buying Iranian oil through September loading, said a North Asia trading source familiar with Iranian oil shipping arrangements.

The move by South Korea, one of Iran’s main customers in Asia along with China and Japan, comes as it is in talks to seek an exemption from U.S. curbs on buying Iranian oil, in line with a waiver it received during previous sanctions.

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