Iran sends OPEC governor to Doha oil freeze talks

Petroleum Minister Bijan Zangeneh will not attend upcoming talks between OPEC and non-OPEC producers in Doha to find a solution to tumbling oil prices, but will send Iran's OPEC governor to the meeting.

According to Press TV, OPEC and non-OPEC producers are set to hold a meeting in the Qatari capital on April 17 to discuss a proposed plan to freeze oil output at January 2016 levels.

"Hossein Kazempour Ardebili, Iran's governor at the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), will attend the Doha meeting on behalf of Iranian Petroleum Minister Bijan Zangeneh to announce Tehran’s positions,” the ministry spokesman Akbar Nematollahi said on Friday.

He added that Iran has plans to regain its lost share in world oil market following the removal of unjust sanctions against the country over its nuclear program and has raised this issue in bilateral and multilateral meetings with oil and energy ministers of OPEC and non-OPEC states.

"Iran has already announced that it cannot join the plan to freeze oil production before the return of the country’s crude oil production and export to the pre-sanctions levels,” Nematollahi said.

“But the Islamic Republic of Iran will support any effort by OPEC and non-OPEC countries to stabilize the market and crude oil prices,” he pointed out.

Amid expectation that OPEC and non-OPEC producers could reach a deal in Qatar to reduce a global crude supply glut, oil prices have rebounded sharply in recent weeks after hitting a 13-year low earlier this year.

SS