A South Korean government official said on Monday that his country had received an exception from the United States on the import of Iranian oil as US sanctions on Tehran came into effect.
South Korea is one of the allies of the United States, one of the largest buyers of Iranian oil in Asia, and asked Washington "maximum flexibility" last week.
The move comes after some South Korean contractors canceled energy-related contracts in Iran due to funding difficulties.
The United States said on Friday it would temporarily allow eight importers to continue buying Iranian oil when it reinstates sanctions on Tehran to force it to curb its nuclear, missile and regional activities.
Under US law exceptions can be granted for up to 180 days.
"Petrochemicals are a key element of our economy, and we have stressed that if we are affected by Iranian sanctions, it will pose a serious challenge to our economy as a whole," said the official, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue.
