Zangeneh talked to reporters prior to OPEC meeting and following a face-to-face meeting with Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih in Vienna.  

In response to a question on whether Iran would veto any decision regarding OPEC production increase, Iranian Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh said: "I prefer to say nothing about this issue until the next few hours."

Asked by another reporter whether Iran's interests would be observed in a potential agreement after the OPEC meeting, Zangeneh said: "We will certainly not endorse any agreement that puts Iran's interests at stake."

He also stated that in his face-to-face talks with Khalid A. Al-Falih, Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia, the topic of discussion was not US sanctions.

Regarding Total's presence in development of Phase 11 project of South Pars, Zangeneh said: "As we have said before, this company has 60 days to obtain a US sanctions waiver to stay in the project. Otherwise, it will have to pull out of the project."

"You seem happier than yesterday," a reported asked Zangeneh. "Yes, because the meeting will be over today and we will all go [home]," he said playfully.

"Yes, probably," said Zangeneh to a question on whether an agreement would be reached after the 174th OPEC meeting. 

Iran has developed a $6b investment package in its oil industry. Asked how much the package would increase the country's crude oil output, the Iranian official said 400,000 barrels per day within 2 and a half years.

Regarding Japan's reportedly halted oil purchases from Iran, the official said: "The oil purchases of this country from Iran is still continuing."

He refrained from answering a query that Riyadh seeking an increase in OPEC crude output under US pressure, and said, "Ask this from the Saudi oil minister. 

"OPEC is an independent organization, not an American one and does not follow orders from Trump," the Iranian official reiterated. 

Asked whether Iran's proposed structure for increasing OPEC output would alter the OPEC+ output reduction agreement, he said: "Continuation of the previous pact is our goal because it is still effective and will not be altered."

Regarding Russia's oil purchases from Iran, the official said, Russia had entered into a contract to buy 100,000 barrels of oil from Iran."

He also added, "The main issue I need to raise here is that the market is currently under political conditions because supply is meeting the current demand." 

Asked about Persian Gulf Star Gas Condensate Refinery, a major refinery project in Iran, Mr. Zangeneh said the project's second phase was ready for startup and its third phase would come on-stream within the next 5 months.