Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani, attended the ceremony, as did top Iraqi government officials and OPEC representatives. Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdulghani, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, UAE Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazroui, Deputy Minister of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan Kamal Abbasov, and OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais were also present, iraqinews.com reported.

“Iraq is proud of hosting this historic celebration,” said Abdulghani, Iraq’s deputy prime minister for energy affairs and oil minister.

“It is time for the organization to celebrate all the accomplishments it has achieved throughout the last six decades and more.”

Iran’s OPEC governor said his country will definitely overcome the sanctions on the country's oil exports.

According to Iraqi media, Amir Hossein Zamaninia added the illegal U.S. sanctions have caused disruption in the oil supply to the market.

"The member countries of this organization seek to achieve stability in the global oil market", he said, adding OPEC is the only organization that has had a global economic impact in the past years.

"Despite the existence of some political differences among the member countries, the positive impact of this organization on the global economy is obvious to everyone," he continued.

The ceremony was initially planned to take place in the Bab al-Muaatham’s Al-Shaab Hall in September 2020, which is also the location of OPEC’s inception. But because of the COVID-19 epidemic and its effects on travel and health, it was repeatedly postponed.

“The celebration will provide the entire OPEC Family with an opportunity to reflect on our exceptional history and celebrate our success, as well as to renew our commitment to the key principles that have underpinned the organization’s work since foundation,” said Al Ghais.

“Remembering our past can serve as an inspiration for achieving a bright and successful future.”

The Iraqi government has refurbished the Al-Shaab Hall, the site where OPEC was established.

Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela were the group’s first five founding members, and they formally gathered in Baghdad between September 10 and 14, 1960 to establish the organization. The meeting, which was held in Baghdad, was hosted by General Abdul Karim Qasim, the former prime minister of Iraq. Since then, 13 nations that produce oil have joined OPEC.

The early years of OPEC’s development were helped in large part by several important Iraqi officials. In order to represent Iraq at conferences, many representatives from Iraq traveled to the OPEC headquarters in Vienna (from 1965 to the present) and Geneva (1960 to 1965).

Iraqis, who have made significant contributions to OPEC in the early years include, Talaat al-Shaibani (founding head of delegation, 1960), Saleh Kubba (founding delegate, 1960; OPEC conference president, 1966), Abdullah Ismail (founding delegate, 1960), Abdulrahman al-Bazzaz (OPEC secretary general, 1964-1965), Rashid al-Rifai (OPEC conference president, 1968), and Nadhim al-Pachachi (OPEC secretary general, 1971-1972).