TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's oil minister says OPEC nations not to change their crude output targets at their upcoming meeting in Vienna.
Gholam Hossein Nozari told reporters Monday, on the anniversary of the 1951 nationalization of Iran's oil industry, the world should expect oil prices to remain at around US$80 per barrel this year.
Nozari's remarks come as the 12-member group, which supplies about a third of the world's crude, is set to meet March 17. Analysts do not expect a change in production targets.
A day earlier, Nozari was quoted on the oil ministry's Web site as saying that OPEC members should push for greater compliance with their existing output quotas, citing an oversupply of oil in the world.
Iran, a hawkish member of the group, traditionally pushes for higher prices.