While there are 13 member countries of OPEC, three men determine its policy:
- Ali al-Naimi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources in Saudi Arabia
- Gholam Hossein Nozari, Iran's Minister of Petroleum
- Rafael Ramirez, Venezuela's oil minister
It is Ali al-Naimi who exercises a moderating influence on the more hawkish members of the triumvirate.
