Iranian Oil Minister Gholam Hossein Nozari has said that the Islamic Republic’s oil and gas output could reach 4.5 mln barrels per day of oil equivalent within the next two years.

China has pulled out of a meeting to discuss new sanctions on Iran, European diplomats said on Friday, highlighting the obstacles western powers, specially the US, face in their quest to increase pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program.

European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana would table a report on Iran’s attitude to engagement in nuclear talks whether or not there will be a new meeting with Iran’s nuclear envoy, his spokeswoman said on Friday.