Saudi oil minister Ali al-Naimi, center right, arrives Sunday at a meeting of oil-producing countries… Saudi Arabia’s decision over the weekend to refuse to freeze oil output without Iran’s participation indicates a heightened willingness in the kingdom to mix politics and oil policy amid tensions with Tehran and Washington. Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s intervention into the talks among oil-producing countries in Doha was seen by analysts as a surprisingly open display of influence over oil policy that risked being seen as political jab at Iran. Iran refused to participate in the talks and the deputy crown prince reaffirmed during the meeting that the kingdom wouldn’t do a deal without Iran, communicating that both via the media and directly to a Saudi delegation headed by the country’s long-serving oil minister, Ali al-Naimi. That was a move away from what had seemed to be a growing willingness on the […]