DUBAI: Iran's crude oil production will reach pre-sanctions levels within two months, a deputy oil minister was quoted as saying on Tuesday, a signal the OPEC member might be willing to discuss an output freeze by the time when the exporting group meets next.
Talks between OPEC and non-OPEC producers to freeze production unexpectedly broke down on Sunday when Saudi Arabia insisted that all OPEC members, including Iran, and non-OPEC oil exporters should join in the deal.
Iran, which was relieved of sanctions in January, is concerned at oversupply but is insisting on ramping up its production to pre-sanctions levels and reclaiming its market share before it will consider freezing output.
State news agency IRNA quoted deputy minister Rokneddin Javadi as saying the pre-sanctions level would be attained by the end of the Iranian month of Khordad, which falls on June 20.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries meets next on June 2 in Vienna to decide on oil output policy.
"Iran will join any effort towards (stabilising the market) soon after reaching pre-sanctions production," a source familiar with Iranian oil policy told Reuters after the Doha meeting failed to reach a deal.
Iran's oil production was slightly below 4 million barrels a day before sanctions were imposed on the oil industry in 2011 and 2012. Last week Javadi said output had already surpassed 3.5 million barrels a day.
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