Russian-Iranian energy trade pact: Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak and Iran’s Minister of Petroleum Bijan Namdar Zanganeh this week signed a memorandum of understanding committing their two countries to the expansion of trade and economic cooperation. The MoU provides for closer cooperation in the construction and overhaul of generating facilities, the development of electric grid infrastructure, in the oil and gas sectors, as well greater levels of bilateral trade in machinery, equipment, consumer goods and farming products. ITAR-TASS