Iran sees different OPEC views on oil price

OPEC members have different views about the suitable oil price level, Iran's representative in the producer organisation told Reuters on Sunday.
                                          
"There are different opinions by different (OPEC) members about the oil prices... Some believe the price of $70-80 (per barrel) is high and some believe it is low," Mohammad Ali Khatibi said in a telephone interview, without naming countries.
                                           
He also said a weak U.S. dollar had "caused everyone to think more about trying to find a solution for that", without elaborating on what the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries could do to address the situation.
                                           
Regarding future demand, he said there was speculation in the market of an increase of between 0.7 million to 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2010.
                                           
If that demand increase were to materialise, "this would create a positive environment", Khatibi said. Oil prices rose to a one-year high of $82 last week, after rallying 17% since Oct10. That rise coincided with a rise in global stock indices and a weaker dollar.                                    

OPEC's secretary-general Abdullah al-Badri said on Thursday the 12-member group was comfortable with oil prices at current levels, particularly compared to the price drop to near $30 late last year.
                                           
Khatibi said: "Each country expresses its own viewpoint in this regard. But as far as I know there were no agreements between OPEC's member countries over the oil prices."
                                           
He added: "We have to define what the high dollar value is and what is the low value. Everybody has its own definition."