Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 24 /Trend M. Moezzi/
As it pursues its own candidacy for the post of OPEC's Secretary General, Iran won't be backing nominees from other countries including Iraq and Ecuador.
It's expected that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) will evaluate contenders for its top post in late October, Seyed Mohammad Ali Khatibi told Mehr News Agency.
When OPEC does meet this fall, Iran plans to get the votes it needs for its own nominee, former oil minister, Gholam Hossein Nozari.
Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Ecuador have introduced candidates for the post too.
Iran's first priority will be greater interaction among members, said Mr. Nozari, to be followed by a stable supply of oil to world markets.
Former Oil Minister Seyed Kazem Vaziri-Hamaneh said Iran's candidacy isn't unfeasible and asked Tehran to reconcile with its Arab neighbors.
Meanwhile, another former Oil Minister, Seyed Masoud Mirkazemi, put Iran's changes for winning the Secretary General's post at "about 100 percent" and said a strong Secretary General will be able to keep oil prices and production at an acceptable level.
Before OPEC's 161st session earlier this summer, Iran announced it was backing Thamir Ghadhban, Iraq' candidate for the Organization's top post.