DUBAI: Tehran is concerned that the deepening global financial crisis is having a bigger impact on oil demand growth than previously expected, Iran's Opec governor said yesterday.

It was too early to say if Opec would have to cut production at its December meeting to match lower demand growth, Muhammad Ali Khatibi said.

"We are worried about demand," Khatibi said. "The financial crisis is deeper than we expected and this is definitely influencing world oil demand."

Opec may have to revise down its forecast for demand growth of around 900,000 barrels per day (bpd) next year, he said.

Fellow Opec member Ecuador said that the group would analyse the impact of the crisis on demand and set production levels accordingly.

Iran has noticed no slackening in demand for crude from Asia, Khatibi said.

"These financial problems seem to be spreading, but Asia remains the engine of oil demand growth and we haven't yet seen any indication that demand has been influenced," Khatibi said.

There were no moves among Opec members to hold an emergency meeting before December, Khatibi said.

Iran's oil minister said that a price of oil below $100 was unsuitable for both consumers and producers.

A reduction in Opec oil supply last month has helped balance the markets and should continue to do so this month, he said.

Opec cut oil supply by about 300,000 bpd last month from August.