Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called on OPEC members to stand united in the face of potential US sanctions aimed at crippling the country’s vital oil exports. Pezeshkian made these remarks during a meeting with OPEC Secretary-General Haitham al-Ghais, following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of an executive order to implement a “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran. Trump’s strategy seeks to halt Tehran’s nuclear ambitions by reducing its oil exports to zero.
The Iranian president’s plea comes as Iran assumes the rotating OPEC presidency for the year. During their meeting, Pezeshkian emphasized that solidarity within OPEC would prevent the US from successfully isolating any one member. “If OPEC members are united and work together, the US would not be able to sanction and pressure one of them,” Pezeshkian stated, according to Iranian state media.
Currently, Iran’s crude oil exports stand at approximately 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd), with the majority flowing to China. A disruption of this volume—roughly 1.4% of global oil supply—could create significant market instability.
In response to the sanctions threat, Pezeshkian outlined strategies to counter US pressures, emphasizing self-reliance and fostering regional cooperation. He pointed out that while the US seeks to curtail Iranian oil exports, Iran has alternative solutions to mitigate the impact of these sanctions. “They think that everything we have depends on oil, but there are many ways to neutralize their goals. We can solve our problems, interact with our neighbors, and create a dignified life for our people,” he said.
Trump initially imposed the “maximum pressure” campaign during his first term after withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The deal, established under former President Barack Obama, lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for limits on its nuclear program. Following Trump’s decision to pull out of the agreement, Iranian oil exports plummeted, reaching as low as 200,000 bpd in 2020. In 2018, OPEC and its allies agreed to increase oil supply in response to the losses caused by sanctions.
Despite ongoing US sanctions, Iran’s oil exports have rebounded to their highest levels since 2018 under President Joe Biden’s administration.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad also addressed the issue, warning that unilateral sanctions on crude oil producers would destabilize global energy markets. “Depoliticizing the oil market is essential for energy security. Imposing sanctions on major oil producers and pressuring OPEC will destabilize oil markets and harm consumers worldwide,” Paknejad told.
As OPEC grapples with external pressures and internal coordination, the future of Iran’s oil exports and the global energy market remains uncertain.