<h1>OPEC+ pauses planned early 2026 production hikes to stabilize prices amid sanctions-driven supply uncertainty and rising demand forecasts.</h1> OPEC+ paused planned production increases for January-March 2026 while adding a limited December output rise, framing the move as a market-stabilizing action in response to seasonality and sanctions-driven supply uncertainty. Summit participants linked rising electricity demand from digital technologies and aviation to continued hydrocarbon investment, noted new oil-targeted sanctions as a factor in supply forecasts, and flagged tensions between climate commitments and producer plans to expand capacity alongside potential regulatory pushback to corporate due diligence rules.