Outgoing OPEC Secretary General Mr Ali Rodriguez said today that the cartel would not raise oil output during the upcoming summit in Vienna, the state IRNA news agency reported.
"OPEC's current oil output will be preserved during the summit" on June 26th, Mr Rodriguez, who arrived in Tehran earlier in the day, was quoted as saying.
"Sometimes, some oil consumers pressure OPEC (to raise or reduce oil output), but OPEC members base their decisions on the member states' interests," Mr Rodriguez added.
Upon his arrival, the secretary general of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries said he would discuss the Vienna summit, environmental issues and his successor, with Iranian officials during his stay.
Mr Rodriguez, who arrived from Saudi Arabia on a regional tour, is scheduled to meet with Iran's Oil Minister Mr Bijan Namdar Zangeneh later in the day. He will also see President Mr Mohammad Khatami tomorrow.
OPEC slashed production by 1.5 million barrels per day from January for a period of six months, under an agreement with leading non-OPEC oil exporters to haul prices out of a steep post-September 11th slump.
But the 11-member cartel is under pressure from consumer countries to increase output amid concern that high oil prices could hinder the recovery of the global economy.
Last week, Iran's deputy Oil Minister Mr Mohammad Mir-Moezi said Tehran sees no need for the OPEC oil cartel to raise production.
AFP