Iraq will not leave OPEC, but is seeking a fair output quota within the oil producer group, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi said in an interview with Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV, according to his office.
Reuters reported in an exclusive in June that Iraq, the group’s second-largest producer after Saudi Arabia and one of its five founding members, had considered leaving OPEC if the group did not allow Baghdad to significantly increase oil production.
Iraq will announce a political cooperation and economic partnership with the United States, Al-Zaidi said ahead of a visit to Washington this month, according to a statement from his office on Thursday.
Al-Zaidi told Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV that his country, which carefully balances its ties with neighbour Iran and with Washington, strives to create “a state of rapprochement” between the two foes.