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London - The return of oil from Iran following the landmark nuclear energy deal with world powers could create fresh tensions within Opec, but may reinforce the cartel's output strategy, analysts say.
Tehran and major powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States - clinched a historic agreement in Vienna on Tuesday aimed at ensuring Iran does not obtain a nuclear bomb, and which paves the way for the removal of sanctions and the gradual return of Iranian oil to the global market next year.
The accord puts strict limits on Iran's nuclear activities for at least a decade. In return, sanctions that have slashed the oil exports of Opec's fifth-largest producer will be lifted and billions of dollars in frozen assets unblocked.
The Islamic republic's exports could reach a potential 2.4 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2016, from 1.6 million bpd in 2014, according to data from economist Charles Robertson at investment bank Renaissance Capital.
The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries - whose 12 members including Iran pump one third of global oil - is mindful that Iranian oil could worsen a global supply glut and depress oil prices further.
Opec decided at its last meeting in Vienna in June to maintain output levels, extending its Saudi-backed strategy to preserve market share and fend off competition from booming US shale.
Oil prices sank last week, hit by the Iran nuclear deal and the strong dollar, raising jitters among some Opec members who next meet on December 4.
London Brent oil slid to about $56 per barrel and New York's West Texas Intermediate dropped to around $52 a barrel.
