Japan on Friday lifted sanctions on Iran, falling in line with major world powers after the United Nations' Atomic Energy Agency confirmed last weekend that Tehran had fully taken steps to curb its disputed nuclear program.
Iran emerged from years of economic isolation when the U.S. and other countries lifted crippling sanctions against it.
Tens of billions of dollars worth of Iranian assets are now unfrozen and global companies that have been barred from doing business there will be able to exploit a market hungry for everything from automobiles to airplane parts.