"Iran, as one of the founding members of OPEC, has always played an important and effective role in the convergence of the members in order for realization of the principal goals of the organization," said Kazem Gharibabadi, the permanent envoy to Vienna-based international organizations in a meeting with OPEC Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo in Vienna on Sunday.

He said OPEC member countries should carefully implement the decisions of the OPEC ministers' meeting, avoiding the acceptance of interpretations that are contrary to these decisions, to ensure proper and precise supervision over implementation of the decisions by members to prevent diversion in the overall direction of the organization.

Iran's permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna also referred to unilateral, illegal and illegitimate measures taken by the United States in the run-up to Washington's pullout of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), like re-imposing the unilateral and oppressive sanctions against Tehran, and stated: "The unilateral action by the United States in withdrawing from the JCPOA received severe condemnation from various countries in the international community."

He added: "No country can overtake the production and export quotas of other member states under any circumstances, and no permits for such doing have been issued by the ministers' meeting, despite the fact that the technical conditions of other countries do not suggest they are capable of so doing."

"Iran believes that OPEC should support its members firmly under the current conditions and prevent other countries that are seeking to politicize the organization," Gharibabadi added.