Iran says it will not attend Qatar oil production meeting

An oil pump works, on Saturday, April 16, 2016, in the desert oil fields of Sakhir, Bahrain. Oil-producing countries are to meet in Qatar on Sunday, April 17, 2016, to discuss a plan to freeze output but their gathering comes as nations like Iran rapidly ramp up their pumping. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali) (The Associated Press)

Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi, center right, arrives at an oil-producers' meeting in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday, April 17, 2016. Oil-producing countries are meeting in Qatar to discuss a possible freeze of production to counter low global prices, but Iran's last-minute decision to stay home could dilute the impact of any agreement. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) (The Associated Press)

Nigerian Oil Minister Emmanuel Ibe Kachiwku arrives at an oil-producers' meeting in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday, April 17, 2016. Oil-producing countries are meeting in Qatar to discuss a possible freeze of production to counter low global prices, but Iran's last-minute decision to stay home could dilute the impact of any agreement. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) (The Associated Press)

Iran says it will not attend an oil producers' meeting in Qatar aimed at freezing production.

The Oil Ministry's SHANA news agency quoted Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zangeneh making the announcement in a report carried only in Farsi Saturday night.

The agency quoted Zangeneh as saying: "We reached the conclusion that the Doha meeting is for those who want to sign the oil freeze plans, and if we wanted to have a representative at the meeting, it was to show our support of this project. But since Iran is not going to sign this, there is no need for the presence of Iran's representative at the meeting."

Producers are meeting in Doha on Sunday to discuss a plan to freeze production at January levels to try to bolster global prices.