Daily cut of 1.2 million barrels from the OPEC oil production ceiling which is the result of the agreement of the non-OPEC states to almost 1.8 million barrels per day cut is not merely a figure in the oil market; rather, it is a sign and symbol in whose manifestation, personalities of many countries had a role. However, Iran's pivotal role in the success should not be taken for granted.
The most important reasons for success of the two recent sessions of the oil producing states was de-politicization of decisions of the economic organization. This was what Iran's Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh said before presence in Vienna session. He described it as the main cause of the OPEC mishap in the past years.
On this basis, Iran's oil diplomacy has been defined on the basis of removing politics from the issue and following the logic of economy which is dominating the oil market, aiming to attain maximum common benefits. The result of the session should be interpreted as its influence and efficiency.
Besides the big achievement, the outcome of the two sessions marks a huge success for the Petroleum Ministry of the Islamic Republic of Iran. For the OPEC oil production ceiling of 32.5 million barrels to be met, all the members would have to cut 4.5 percent of their production, while Iran would have the permission to increase its output by 90,000 barrels.
An international expert believes that Iran managed to remove the crippling oil sanctions and stand as an OPEC super power with a share of 3.9 million barrels.
All the thinkers admit that Iran was the major winner of the OPEC accord; it was a scene not having any losers, of course.
The issue not understandable is that some Iranian politicians continue to make their audience believe in their collective illusions, presented as expert claims. Their claim is "Iran's failure in OPEC."
The lesson the recent OPEC accord has for the politicized friends is that nothing should be judged with the scale and criterion of political tendencies and one should not beat the drums of anxiety.
Today, the only way to safeguard national interests is engagement and cooperation along with resistance on the principles based on prudence and rationality and of course, the harshest differences of opinion will not attain the permission to escape the scope of fairness and justice.
Translated by Behnaz Hossein Gholipour