Iran appointed Ali Kardor as Managing Director of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) on 12 June, replacing Roknaldin Javadi, who had held the post since 2013.

Iran has surpassed expectations for the speed with which it has increased crude output since international sanctions were eased in January, but is struggling to put in place a framework that will entice IOCs back into its upstream sector. Without international firms’ technical expertise and financing, Iran will struggle to push beyond pre-sanctions output of 3.58mn b/d in 2011. (CONTINUED - 1010 WORDS)