Saudi Arabia is prepared to join an oil output freeze next month without Iran taking part, a senior Opec delegate said, making a deal among big producers more likely. Some of the world’s largest oil nations will meet in Doha on April 17 to discuss restraining output. The move follows a provisional agreement reached in February by Saudi Arabia, Russia, Qatar and Venezuela to keep production at January levels. “There is agreement from many countries to go along with a freeze,” said the delegate. “Why make it contingent on Iran?” Last month Gulf officials suggested any deal was conditional on Iran, Saudi Arabia’s Opec rival, taking part alongside other big producer countries. Iran has sought to increase production and exports after the lifting of sanctions against its oil industry in January. Iranian officials have shown no willingness to back any deal that would result in restricting its output. Questions have been raised among Gulf delegates about Iran’s ability to increase output, suggesting this could be one reason to proceed without it. “Despite all the bragging, we have yet to see what Iran can do,” said the delegate.