There are a few reasons to be skeptical that the momentum will carry crude prices higher than current levels.

Total and Iran reached a preliminary agreement this year to build three petrochemical plants.

Amano became director-general on 1 December 2009 and he therefore saw the agency through the 2011 Fukushima accident in his home country of Japan.

Iran is ready to take a serious part in reconstruction of the Iraqi electricity grid once terrorists have been eliminated from the area.

The last time Moscow surpassed Riyadh in crude production was in December 2016 when Russia extracted 10.49 million against 10.465 by Saudi Arabia.

China may indeed join the ranks of countries banning fossil fuel vehicles.

Iran exports almost half of its annual petrochemical output to China.

Liquified natural gas imports will be limited to 80 shipments worth $1.8 billion in 2017 18 in anticipation of Zhor'.s completion by late 2017.

The pipeline will export 30 billion cubic metres of gas every year with the gas ready for the domestic market next year and for export in 2019.

Experts see another reason for Beijing'.s objection to harsher sanctions.