Iran President Ahmadinejad To Join OPEC Meeting

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will attend the next meeting of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, a top Iranian official was quoted as saying Wednesday, but officials on both sides said there had been no final confirmation.

The news, which adds to uncertainty over who will represent war-torn Libya and what to do about high oil prices, could make the June 8 meeting one of the most charged to date and underscores how the group may not be immune to tensions in the region.

In remarks reported by the semi-official Fars news agency, Mohammad Reza Mirtajeddini, Iran 's vice president for Parliamentary Affairs, said: "Ahmadinejad, as caretaker of the oil ministry, will participate in OPEC's next meeting."

Over the weekend, Ahmadinejad said he would be in charge of the oil ministry for the time being after sacking the incumbent as part of a proposed merger of ministries.

With Iran currently holding the helm of the oil producers' group as part of a rotating position, Ahmadinejad would normally preside the gathering if he attends it.

However, an OPEC delegate said he wasn't aware of the group receiving any notification the Iranian president will come.

A top Iranian oil official also said no final decision had been made on the matter. "Maybe somebody else will come," he said.

Spokespeople at OPEC's secretariat general and at Iran 's oil ministry weren't available for comment.

Separately, an official at Libya 's rebel Transitional National Council said Wednesday that they want to attend the OPEC meeting.

But the OPEC delegate said deciding if Libya 's rebels can attend the meeting is "a very complicated legal issue. I don't know if OPEC can solve it." Only a few countries have recognized the TNC as Libya 's official government.