Saudi official denies OPEC agreement with Iran

A Saudi official has denied that his country agreed to share with Iran the post of the secretary general of OPEC through dividing the period of the post of six years between the two countries' candidates.

Reuters said the denial from the Saudi official came in reply to a statement released by Iran stating that Riyadh and Tehran have agreed that each will assume the post for three years.

Saudi Arabia had nominated its representative to the council of OPEC's governors, Suleiman al-Harbeish, while Iran has also nominated its candidate, Hossein Kazem-Pour Ardebili.

OPEC needs the unanimous consent of its 11 members to elect a new secretary general to replace Rilwanu Lukman of Nigeria who currently holds the post.