Iran's OPEC governor Mohammad Ali Khatibi has predicted that oil prices will touch $80 a barrel by the end of this year, amid signs of a recovery in the world economy, Press TV reported Monday on its Web site.
"Optimistic signs in the oil market" and "news about the revival of the global economy" will push oil prices to $80 a barrel by January, the report quoted Khatibi as saying.
Khatibi added that seasonal demand for oil will increase in the fourth quarter to 29.1 million barrels a day, according to the report.