The Iranian president urges the members to unite after Trump restarts the campaign of “maximum pressure” sanctions.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian urged OPEC members to unite against possible US sanctions on the main oil producer after US President Donald Trump said he would try to perform the export of teheran oil to zero.
Pezeshkian commented on a meeting with the OPEC Secretary General Haitham al-Ghais, the day after Trump signed the executive command by calling for a “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran, which he says is aimed at stop Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
The OPEC’s X account on Wednesday showed al-Ghais to visit Iran, which this year assumes the rotating OPEC Presidency.
“I believe that the OPEC members are united and work together, now they could not sanction and press one of them,” Pezeshkian said at a meeting with Al-Ghais, according to Iranian state media.
Iranian exports of raw oil currently amount to about 1.5 million barrels per day (BPD), and most went to China. The loss of such a volume, equal to about 1.4 percent of the world’s total supply, would be significant for markets.
Pezeshkian also set strategies for suppressing US sanctions and maintenance of economic stability by calling for confidence and regional cooperation.
“They think that everything we have depends on oil and want to stop our oil exports, while there are many ways to neutralize their goals, which we can use to solve our own problems and communicate with our neighbors and provide a proper platform for a dignified life for our country people,” he said is.
‘Destabilizing the oil and energy market’
Trump first imposed “maximum pressure” campaign to Iran during his first term after receiving from A common comprehensive plan of action agreement. According to the agreement, concluded under the administration of former US President Barack Obama, Tehran would reduce its nuclear program in exchange for relief of sanctions.
Trump’s actions from 2017 to 2021 recorded a sharp drop in Iranian oil exports to only 200,000 BPD in a few months of 2020. In 2018, OPEC and allies agreed to increase the supply after Trump called on manufacturers to compensate for losses caused by sanctions on Iran.
Iranian oil exports have increased to the highest since 2018 during the terms of President Joe Biden, despite continuous US sanctions.
Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad also told Al-Ghais that the imposition of unilateral sanctions will destabilize the energy markets for the raw oil producers, Shana News Outlet reported on Wednesday.
“Depoliticizing oil market is a vital issue for energy security. The imposition of unilateral sanctions to the main oil producers and putting pressure on OPEC will destabilize oil and energy markets, as well as to harm consumers around the world, “said Paknejad.
Paknejad also told the state TV that Tehran had prepared strategies for any situation regarding US sanctions.
