Tuesday, May 2 2006 17:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Iran, the world's second largest oil producer, today predicted that crude oil prices might touch 100 dollars a barrel by the winter of 2006.

Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Hadi Nejad Hosseinian, who had last year predicted that crude prices will touch 70 dollar, today said, "It is possible", when asked if crude prices could touch 100 dollars a barrel.

The minister, who is here to meet Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, said that the global demand for oil was much higher than the supply and geopolitical factors were fuelling the price surge.

World oil prices have already touched 75 dollars in key global markets, including in London and New York.