Iran, Venezuela lock step on oil market woes

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told visiting officials from Venezuela it was incumbent upon producers to improve the situation in the global energy market. "The Islamic Republic of Iran and Venezuela are friends and will do their utmost in favor of their nations' economic development and welfare," the Iranian president told visiting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Iran is eyeing a return to the global energy stage as sanctions pressures ease in the wake of a July nuclear agreement reached between Tehran, the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany More…