Iran says OPEC won't consider oil hike in Riyadh

Tehran, Nov 12: Iran said on Monday that OPEC ministers were not due to discuss a possible output rise at a meeting this month in Saudi Arabia but the idea would be raised at a December meeting in the United Arab Emirates.

Iran's OPEC governor Hossein Kazempour-Ardebili, in comments carried by the official IRNA news agency, was responding to remarks by Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi, who said on Sunday OPEC would discuss an increase in oil output at an upcoming meeting.

Asked about the Saudi comments, Kazempour-Ardebili said: ''The oil ministers of OPEC member states are not due to discuss increasing oil production in Riyadh.'' ''He (the Saudi minister) means OPEC is due to discuss (this issue) in its December.... session in Abu Dhabi.''

Reuters>