Iraq’s Oil Minister Abdul Kareem al- Luaibi told Iran that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries must avoid political considerations as crude is a strategic commodity affecting the world, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

Iran’s enemies are seeking to pass sanctions, al-Luaibi said in a meeting with Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi yesterday, according to IRNA.

“Our efforts are for OPEC not to enter political matters, as oil is a vital and strategic matter for the world and we will act in line with the interests of oil-exporting nations,” al- Luaibi said.

Speaking in his capacity as current head of OPEC, al-Luaibi said in a Jan. 18 press conference in Baghdad that he will visit Iran to seek “clear assurances” on Persian Gulf crude shipments and Iranian production.

Al-Luaibi’s initiative came after Rahimi said on Dec. 27 that Iran may close the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for about a fifth of globally traded oil, if the U.S. and its allies impose a ban on Iranian oil exports to halt the nation’s nuclear work. European Union foreign ministers meet in Brussels tomorrow to consider imposing the oil ban and additional financial sanctions against Iran, which is under four rounds of United Nations sanctions.

The IRNA report published earlier today did not specify whether protection of the waterway and exports of crude oil in the region had been discussed between the two officials.

“The enemies of the Iranian nation for years forced the UN’s Security Council to impose sanctions against Iran and are today starting a new game,” Rahimi was quoted as saying by IRNA. “It is clear that Iran will resist in the face of this oppression.”

An average of 14 crude tankers sail each day through the strait between Iran and Oman, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Iran is the second-largest OPEC oil producer after Saudi Arabia, pumping 3.575 million barrels a day in December, according to data compiled by Bloomberg News.