Gulf Nations Aid U.S. Push To Choke Off Iran Oil Sales.

WASHINGTON -- Pressure on Iran mounted on Thursday, with the United States saying it was determined to isolate the country's central bank, and three of Iran's largest oil customers -- Japan, South Korea and China -- getting assurances that Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf producers would help make up any gap in supplies if they curtailed oil purchases from Iran. The Obama administration said its campaign to choke off Iran's oil exports was making headway, amid signs that Japan, South Korea and even China were seeking alternatives to Iran, in order to comply with American sanctions on Iran's central bank, through which most purchases are made. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]