Iran's Oil Minister Bijan Zangeneh has called on the head of OPEC for the inclusion of an agenda item in July’s meeting to support members targeted by sanctions, Shana reported Thursday.
According to the report of the ministry's news agency, Zangeneh made the request in a letter sent to Suhail Mohammed Al Mazrouei, UAE minister of energy and industry, and the president of the OPEC to include the agenda item in the conference set for July 22 in Vienna, Austria.
Shana reported that in the letter to Al Mazrouei, the minister underlined the 'imposition of unlawful, unilateral and extraterritorial sanctions by the U.S. government on the Islamic Republic of Iran which clearly violate the international agreement that had been endorsed by the U.N. Security Council.'
In reference to Article 2 of the OPEC Statute, which emphasizes safeguarding the interests of member countries individually and collectively, Zangeneh asked Al Mazrouei to instruct the secretariat to include a separate agenda item under the title; OPEC Ministerial Conference Support to the Member Countries That are Under Illegal, Unilateral and Extraterritorial Sanctions.
The minister stressed that in case the sanctions led to any fall in Iran’s share in the oil market, Tehran reserved the right to return to its previous share in the shortest time possible, and resume its normal production level once the 'illegal' restrictions were lifted.
He added that Iran would not accept any further limitations in this regard.
Zangeneh also underlined recent remarks by certain OPEC members, noting the organization had adopted decisions by consensus in which no single member spoke for the body.
Last week, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak and his Saudi counterpart Khalid Al-Falih hinted that their countries could ease the production cut agreement after June. The agreement began to be implemented in January 2017.
On May 8, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers known as the JCPOA, and the re-imposition of sanctions against Iran.
Iranian officials have since said the agreement would continue to remain in effect, and necessary measures would be taken to continue the country’s oil and gas exports, and maintain its market share.
By Hale Turkes
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr