OPEC Secretary-General Abdalla el-Badri said he expects crude prices to remain above $100 a barrel for the rest of 2011 and blamed speculation for playing “a very important role” in oil markets.

Global markets are “very comfortable,” with ample supplies, he told a news conference today in Tehran.

Current crude inventories are sufficient to meet demand for 58 days, or five days above average, el-Badri said.