TEHRAN. Apr 3. Iran has raised its oil output as part of last week's decision to increase production by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries to preserve Its market share, the oil minister said Monday, reports AP.

"Iran has Increased production since April 1. We will not let anyone take up any of our market share," Oli Minister Bijan Namdar Zangeneh told reporters. He would not say by now much production was raised.

Iran had at first refused to join other OPEC members in an agreement to increase oil production. but reversed course Wednesday, saying It will pump more Io keep other producers from taking away its market share.

Its initial refusal came as a protest against US pressure on the group, but commercial con-

cents won out over political posturing Nonetheless, Iran criticised Washington's Involvement again on Monday.

"It was bad that the United States put pressure on OPEC. But they will not be able to continue this trend because OPEC members are Independent countries and will not accept more pressure.” Zangeneh told reporters.

Zangeneh also said that Iran would nc satisfied to see the price of OPEC basket hovering around $25 a barrel. Iran would have preferred the cuts to come in several stages and not all at once, he added/

OPEC members, excluding Iran and Iraq, agreed to Increase their total production by 1.452 million barrels per day as of April 1.

Iran would have been entitled to a 264.000 barrels per day increase had II signed Wednesday’s agreement.