Putin mediates Riyadh-Tehran differences on slowing OPEC production

Russian President Vladimir Putin is reported by sources in Moscow, Riyadh and Tehran to have played a central role in achieving an accord Friday among OPEC members to cut oil production by 4.9 percent. The accord sent oil prices upward. Those sources describe Putin as personally intervening to resolve the differences between Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Alil Khamenei and Saudi defense minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Riyadh was persuaded to start cutting back on quantities, while the Iranians finally agreed to slow down their increased production.