Iran's Minister of Petroleum Bijan Namdar Zangeneh, center, speaks to journalists prior to the start of a meeting of OPEC, at their headquarters in Vienna,on June 2, 2016. (AP)

Iran says crude oil prices have risen, are stable: Iran OPEC member

Iran

Follow Followed Unfollow

Reuters, Dubai

Published: 17 August ,2020: 11:53 AM GST Updated: 17 August ,2020: 12:18 PM GST

OPEC has managed to raise crude prices and stabilize the oil market; OPEC member Iran's oil minister was quoted on Monday as saying by his ministry's website SHANA.

For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.

“OPEC's performance has been successful because the price of oil has risen from $16 in May to around $45 and has stabilized,” Bijan Zanganeh said.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, a group known as OPEC+, agreed record output cuts to tackle the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Zanganeh said Iran's oil industry has signed 13 contracts worth roughly 1.5 billion euros with 14 local firms to enhance and maintain the country's oil production.

In 2018, US President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with six powers and reimposed sanctions that have sharply cut Iran's oil exports.

“We welcome the participation of all foreign companies in the development of oil industry projects except companies from Israel, but we will continue our work even without their participation in our projects,” Zanganeh said.

Fearing US penalties, foreign companies have stayed away from investing in Iran. Tehran does not recognize Israel.

China ramps up US oil purchases ahead of trade deal review, say sources

Get the latest stories from AlArabiya on Google News