In an interview with Iran’s Shana news agency on Monday, OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais said that as a responsible partner, Iran will be fully welcomed  into the global oil market when the US ultimately lifts it sanctions.

In his first visit to Tehran, Al Ghais noted that Iran, which already belongs to OPEC, has the ability to deliver significant production volumes to the global market over short periods.

Currently Iran is subject to US sanctions which were placed on the nation over its nuclear program, which the United States maintains is being used to develop a nuclear weapon with which it could threaten the region. The sanctions primarily target the nation’s oil and gas industries.

However the sanctions have failed to stop all Iranian oil exports since the Trump administration re-imposed them in 2016. Attempts to resolve the issues which led to the imposition of sanctions have repeatedly failed to come to a resolution.

Al Ghais went on to say, “We believe that Iran is a responsible player amongst its family members, the countries in the OPEC group. I’m sure there will be good work together, in synchronization, to ensure that the market will remain balanced as OPEC has continued to do over the past many years.”

In March, following mediation by China, the world’s second largest oil consumer, Iran and Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s largest producer, announced they were restoring diplomatic relations. Since then the nations have agreed to forge closer economic ties, and reopen their respective embassies.