The United States granted 180-day waivers on Iran sanctions to Sri Lanka, China, India and a number of other countries on Friday in exchange for their cutting purchases of oil from Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported.

President Barack Obama’s administration has now renewed waivers for all 20 of Iran’s major oil buyers, after granting them to Japan and 10 European Union countries in September. Friday’s action was the second renewal for all 20 after Obama signed the sanctions into law a year ago.

The sanctions aim to choke funding to Iran’s nuclear program, which the West suspects is enriching uranium to levels that could be used in weapons. Tehran says the program is for civilian purposes.

“The United States and the international community remain committed to maintaining pressure on the Iranian regime until it fully addresses concerns about its nuclear program,” secretary of state Hillary Clinton said in a statement.

Clinton also granted waivers, known as “exceptions,” on Friday to South Korea, South Africa, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan.
Under the sanctions law, banks in countries that buy oil from Iran can be cut off from the US financial system unless their purchases decline.