LONDON (Dow Jones)--Iran is preparing to nominate its own candidate for OPEC's top position, the country's representative with the producers' group said Wednesday, joining other heavyweights such as Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
Asked by Dow Jones if Iran would nominate its own candidate for the position of secretary general of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Muhammad Ali Khatibi said "of course."
"Iran always takes a very active role in the selection of the secretary general," he said, without naming any potential candidate.
At a meeting due June 14, OPEC members are expected to discuss a replacement to current head Abdalla Salem el-Badri, who is set to leave at the end of the year.
The secretary general of OPEC--the world's largest oil-producer group--plays a key role in providing a unifying voice for the organization and in brokering agreements on output.
Small Latin American producer Ecuador has named its oil minister, Wilson Pastor-Morris, as a candidate, according to an OPEC delegate.
Saudi Arabia and Iraq have also nominated contenders, respectively OPEC governor Majid Munif and ex-oil minister Thamer Ghadban.
-By Benoit Faucon; Dow Jones Newswires; +44 20 7842 9266; [email protected]
