TEHRAN August 12(Shana)--Iran will not increase its crude oil output before it has western sanctions on its energy sector removed, managing director of the National Iranian Oil Company says.

Roknoddin Javadi made the remarks in reaction to recent reports that the country aims to boost its crude output by 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) within the coming week.
�Any increase in Iran's oil production depends on the removal of sanctions and [the country�s] oil output will not undergo any change as long as sanctions are in place,� he added.

By SHANA