Japan warns of sanctions as hostage deadline nears

Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira warned Tuesday that Japan will join the European Common Market countries in tightening trade sanctions against Iran if no progress is made toward the release of US hostages by this weekend. Foreign Minister Saburo Okita will visit Western Europe next week to coordinate sanctions with European officials.

Meanwhile, the Danish Folketing (parliament) Tuesday passed a bill ordering economic sanctions and a limited trade boycott on Iran for holding the hostages. Danish industrial exports to Iran last year totaled $23.6 million.