The Obama administration on Dec. 7 reissued waivers that exempt nine countries, including China, India and Turkey, from their obligations to comply with U.S. sanctions targeting the Central Bank of Iran.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Washington granted the exemptions to these countries for reducing their purchases of Iranian oil over the past six months, thereby helping force Tehran to cut its total oil production by one million barrels a day in September and October from a year earlier.

The other countries granted waivers were Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Taiwan. U.S. and European officials said they believe Tehran is losing around $15 billion every quarter in lost oil sales.