The US has tried to take coercive and unilateral measures about some OPEC members such as Iran and Venezuela to follow its own interests there. Iranian Ambassador to the UN Agencies Headquartered in Vienna Kazzem Qaribabadi said on Monday. warning against foreign powers influence on the OPEC decision making.
He added that the US. supported by some OPEC members. has been trying to influence the key decisions of the organization.
He was referring to Saudi Arabia and Russia that are dominating the group`s decision making
The US is one of the biggest oil producers in the world and is trying to highlight its own role by undermining Iran and Venezuela’s roles. Qaribabadi added.
The OPEC member states are meeting in Vienna to discuss further oil production cuts.
The Iranian official accused OPEC members such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for seizing the opportunity of Iran sanctions to take the country’s position as a global oil supplier.
He warned of the danger that OPEC is exposed to due to external efforts as well as political measures of some countries inside the body.
These two threats have been highlighted by the Iranian oil minister. Iran supports an independent. professional and technical OPEC. Iran doesn’t want an OPEC to be under the US influence that takes coercive measures and imposes unilateral sanctions. according to the Iranian official.
Qaribabadi also warned that without Iran’s backing. none of the OPEC’s decisions have been implemented so far.
The Iranian oil minister said before the OPEC meeting that his country will not accept any decision that has been taken outside it and imposed on the body. he stressed.
Early in May. Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said the OPEC will collapse if member states like Saudi Arabia and the UAE keep practicing one-sided policies against the interests of the organization and other member states. and warned of Tehran`s reply to the two OPEC members` companionship with the US sanctions on Iranian crude.
Zangeneh. after a meeting with OPEC Secretary-General Mohammed Barkindo on May 02. warned that Iran will reply in kind if its interests in the OPEC are threatened.
`Iran is part of the OPEC due to its interests and if members of the organization seek to threaten it. Iran will not leave them unanswered.` the Iranian oil minister highlighted.
I told Barkindo that OPEC is threatened by the unilateralism of some of its members and that it`s possible that the organization may collapse. said Zangeneh following the meeting.