“Iran has not withdrawn from OPEC chief candidacy”: Iran’s Oil Minister

Iran’s Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi has rejected reports that the Islamic Republic has withdrawn its candidacy for the position of secretary general of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Talking to reporters on Thursday, Qasemi rejected reports that Iran had withdrawn its candidacy in favor of Iraq and added,” Iran still vies with Iraq and Saudi Arabia” to obtain the post.

He said that prior to the OPEC Wednesday meeting, Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia had nominated candidates for the post but the member states did not reach an agreement during a closed session and thus they all agreed unanimously that the current secretary general Abdullah al-Badry remains in his post for another year.

He said that the Iranian candidate nominated for the post is qualified in every aspect, adding an impartial team would evaluate the candidates for the post.

Qasemi also said that the organization agreed to stick to its oil production ceiling of 30 million barrels per day.

OPEC is a Vienna-based intergovernmental organization of 12 oil-producing countries.

It is made up of Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.