Amirhossein Zamaninia, Iran's deputy oil ministry for trade and international affairs, was appointed the country's OPEC governor, replacing the recently deceased Hossein Kazempour, the oil ministry's news service Shana reported June 6.
The appointment was signed off by 13 OPEC ministers on the sidelines of the OPEC meeting via web on June 6. OPEC governor serves as a member country's top envoy to the organization's secretariat.
Zamaninia holds a law degree from the US and has been involved in Iran's nuclear negotiations with world powers for years under Foreign Minister Javad Zarif. An oil ministry source said Zamaninia has retained his position as deputy oil minister.
Kazempour died May 16 of a brain hemorrhage, leaving major shoes to fill at a critical time with the coronavirus pandemic wreaking havoc on the global economy and the US applying its "maximum pressure" sanctions campaign on Iran. His death as Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh's right hand in OPEC shocked the ministry.
In an interview with S&P Global Platts last month, Zamaninia said Iran, as a founding member, would continue to play a critical role in OPEC and the now expanded OPEC+ alliance with Russia.
