DOHA, Qatar—Oil-producing countries met Sunday in Qatar to discuss a possible freeze of production to counter low global prices, but Iran’s decision to stay home could dilute the impact of any agreement.
The attendees, including Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi, silently swept past gathered journalists at a luxury hotel in Doha ahead of the meeting. Also on hand was Russia, another of the world’s top oil producers. The U.S., now a major producer because of shale oil, did not attend.
At least 15 oil-producing nations representing about 73 percent of world output were expected at the Doha meeting, Qatar’s energy and industry minister, Mohammed bin Saleh al-Sada, has said.
The gathering follows a surprise Doha meeting in February between Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, in which they pledged to cap their crude output at January levels if other producers do the same.
