International oil prices would probably remain at current levels, Venezuela's Oil and Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez told the local media on Sunday.

"Prices will stay where they are. The market has changed. We will have the prices like those we are now seeing for a while," said Ramirez, who is also the president of state-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela.

Oil prices have touched historic highs in recent weeks, due to tensions over Iran's planned nuclear energy program and conflicts in both Saudi Arabia and Nigeria, both of which are members of the oil production cartel, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Ramirez also reiterated the threat made previously by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to halt oil supplies to the United States, Venezuela's main crude customer, if Washington were to attack Venezuela.

The United States buys 1.5 million barrels of oil from Venezuela everyday. But Ramirez said Venezuela is working hard to diversify its export destinations.

Source: Xinhua