Iran

Ehsan Hadadi of Iran (C) poses with A. M. Dheeb of Qatar (L) and Mohammad Samimi of Iran (R) on the podium during the award ceremony for the men's discus throw event in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 24, 2010. Ehsan Hadadi of Iran won gold, A. M. Dheeb of Qatar won silver and Mohammad Samimi of Iran took bronze.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad flashes the V-sign for victory as he stands between his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (L) and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) after the Islamic republic inked a nuclear fuel swap deal in Tehran on May 17, 2010 under which 1,200 kilos of low enriched uranium will be shipped to Turkey, potentially ending a standoff with world powers gearing for new sanctions against Tehran. The agreement, under which Iran will in turn receive nuclear fuel for a Tehran reactor, was signed in the Iranian capital by the foreign ministers of Iran, Brazil and Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad flashes the V-sign for victory as he stands between his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (L) and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) after the Islamic republic inked a nuclear fuel swap deal in Tehran on May 17, 2010 under which 1,200 kilos of low enriched uranium will be shipped to Turkey, potentially ending a standoff with world powers gearing for new sanctions against Tehran. The agreement, under which Iran will in turn receive nuclear fuel for a Tehran reactor, was signed in the Iranian capital by the foreign ministers of Iran, Brazil and Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu.

Mohammad Samimi of Iran celebrates on the podium during the award ceremony for the men's discus throw event in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 24, 2010. Ehsan Hadadi of Iran won gold, A. M. Dheeb of Qatar won silver and Mohammad Samimi of Iran took bronze.

Ehsan Hadadi of Iran celebrates on the podium during the award ceremony for the men's discus throw event in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 24, 2010. Ehsan Hadadi of Iran won gold, A. M. Dheeb of Qatar won silver and Mohammad Samimi of Iran took bronze.

Ehsan Hadadi of Iran poses with a national flag on the podium during the award ceremony for the men's discus throw event in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 24, 2010. Ehsan Hadadi of Iran won gold, A. M. Dheeb of Qatar won silver and Mohammad Samimi of Iran took bronze.

Ehsan Hadadi of Iran lowers his head to the podium during the award ceremony for the men's discus throw event in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 24, 2010. Ehsan Hadadi of Iran won gold, A. M. Dheeb of Qatar won silver and Mohammad Samimi of Iran took bronze.

Ehsan Hadadi of Iran celebrates on the podium during the award ceremony for the men's discus throw event in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 24, 2010. Ehsan Hadadi of Iran won gold, A. M. Dheeb of Qatar won silver and Mohammad Samimi of Iran took bronze.

Ehsan Hadadi of Iran celebrates on the podium during the award ceremony for the men's discus throw event in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 24, 2010. Ehsan Hadadi of Iran won gold, A. M. Dheeb of Qatar won silver and Mohammad Samimi of Iran took bronze.

Iran's Javed Mohammad Nejadi (L) spikes the ball over to Pakistan's Imdad Hussain (R) watched by Iran's Rahman Davoodi (C) during third Asian Central Zone Volleyball Championship senior men's Iran vs Pakistan at Netaji Indoor courts in Kolkata on September 17, 2010. The tournament runs September 16-20 in Kolkata.

Ehsan Hadadi of Iran bites his gold medal on the podium during the award ceremony for the men's discus throw event in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 24, 2010. Ehsan Hadadi of Iran won gold, A. M. Dheeb of Qatar won silver and Mohammad Samimi of Iran took bronze.

Ehsan Hadadi of Iran poses with a national flag on the podium during the award ceremony for the men's discus throw event in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 24, 2010. Ehsan Hadadi of Iran won gold, A. M. Dheeb of Qatar won silver and Mohammad Samimi of Iran took bronze.

Mohammadkazem (C) of Iran spikes a shot past Tatsuya Fukuzawa (L) and Kota Yamamura of Japan during the volleyball men's final match against Iran at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 26, 2010. Resurgent Japan outlasted Iran 3-1 to win the Asian Games men's volleyball gold medal for the first time in 16 years, in a repeat of last year's Asian championship final.

Ehsan Hadadi of Iran celebrates on the podium during the award ceremony for the men's discus throw event in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 24, 2010. Ehsan Hadadi of Iran won gold, A. M. Dheeb of Qatar won silver and Mohammad Samimi of Iran took bronze.

Asghar Kardoustpoustinsaraei of Iran scores against Japan during the men's bronze medal basketball game at the Guangzhou international sport arena during the 16th Asian Games on November 26, 2010. Iran beat Japan 74-66 to win the Asian Games basketball bronze medal.

Iran's Alireza Mobasheri Demneh (C) hits the ball watched by team mate Golmohmmad Sakhavi (L) and Hamed Rezaei during the match against Kazakhstan in the third Asian Central Zone Volleyball Championship senior men's at Netaji Indoor courts in Kolkata on September 19, 2010. Iran won the match over Kazakhstan in the tournament which runs September 16-20 in Kolkata.

Iran's Vali Nourmohammadi (C) and Rahman Davoodi (R) blocks a spike by Indias G Pradeep during the third Asian Central Zone Volleyball Championship senior men's at Netaji Indoor courts in Kolkata on September 18, 2010. Iran won the match over India in the tournament which runs September 16-20 in Kolkata.

Iran's Vali Nourmohammadi (R) prepares to spike the ball watched as teammate Saber Narimanazhad (2nd R) sets against India during their finals match in the third Asian Central Zone Volleyball Championship at Netaji Indoor courts in Kolkata on September 20, 2010. Iran won the match over India.

Hossein Askari of Iran celebrates winning bronze in the 53km men's individual time trial at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 20, 2010. Choe Hyeogmin of Korea won gold with Eugen Wacker of Kyrgyzstan winning silver and Hossein Askari of Iran winning bronze.

Gold medalist Saeid Abdvali of Iran poses on the podium during the awards ceremony of the men�s Greco-Roman 66 kg wrestling competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 21, 2010. Iran won gold, Kazakhstan silver and the bronze was shared by India and Japan.

Gold medalist Taleb Nematpour of Iran poses during the awards ceremony of the men�s Greco-Roman 84 kg wrestling competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 22, 2010. Iran won gold, South Korea silver and the bronze was shared by Kyrgystan and Kazakhstan.

Gold medallist Jamal Mirzaei of Iran celebrates with a national flag after winning the men�s Freestyle 84kg wrestling competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 24, 2010. Iran won gold, South Korea silver and the bronze was shared by Mongolia and Kazakhstan.

Gold medallist Jamal Mirzaei (R) of Iran competes against Silver medallist Lee Jae-sung of South Korea during men�s Freestyle 84kg wrestling competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 24, 2010. Iran won gold, South Korea silver and the bronze was shared by Mongolia and Kazakhstan.

Gold medallist Reza Yazdani of Iran poses on the podium during the awards ceremony of the men�s Freestyle 96kg wrestling final at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 25, 2010. Iran won the gold medal, Uzbekistan the silver and the bronze was shared by India and Japan.

Gold medallist Reza Yazdani of Iran (bottom) competes with silver medallist Kurban Kurbanov of Uzbekistan in the men�s Freestyle 96kg wrestling final at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 25, 2010. Iran won the gold medal, Uzbekistan the silver and the bronze was shared by India and Japan.

Gold medallist Reza Yazdani of Iran (L) competes with silver medallists Kurban Kurbanov of Uzbekistan in the men�s Freestyle 96kg wrestling final at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 25, 2010. Iran won the gold medal, Uzbekistan the silver and the bronze was shared by India and Japan.

Iran's chief negotiator Saeed Jalili leaves the conference center near the mission of Switzerland to the United Nations on the second day of nuclear talks on December 7, 2010 in Geneva. World powers and Iran began talks in Geneva on Tehran's controversial nuclear programme, 14 months after negotiations broke off.

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki speaks during a meeting with the ambassadors of France, Germany and Britain in Tehran 15 May 2006. Mottaki met with the three European ambassadors at 1330 GMT and less than two hours later the ambassadors from Russia and China, a foreign ministry statement said. The meetings coincide with European Union efforts to put together a package of incentives aimed at convincing Iran to return to a suspension of uranium enrichment work.

Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi (R) and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki review an honour guard upon the latter's arrival in Tehran on October 18, 2010 to garner support for his premiership bid, as his chief rival Iyad Allawi accused Iran of meddling in Baghdad's political affairs.

Gold medalist Taleb Nematpour of Iran poses during the awards ceremony of the men�s Greco-Roman 84 kg wrestling competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 22, 2010. Iran won gold, South Korea silver and the bronze was shared by Kyrgystan and Kazakhstan.

Gold medalist Taleb Nematpour of Iran celebrates with a national flag after winning the men�s Greco-Roman 84 kg wrestling competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 22, 2010. Iran won gold, South Korea silver and the bronze was shared by Kyrgystan and Kazakhstan.

Gold medallist Sadegh Goudarzi of Iran (2nd- l), silver winner Kazuyuki Nagashima of Japan (L) and the two bronze medallists Lee Yunseok (R) of South Korea and Gombodorj Dorjvaanchig of Mongolia (2nd R) pose on the podium during the awards ceremony of the men�s Freestyle 74kg wrestling competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 24, 2010. Iran won gold, Japan silver and the bronze was shared by Mongolia and South Korea.

Gold medallist Reza Yazdani of Iran (L) competes with silver medallist Kurban Kurbanov of Uzbekistan in the men�s Freestyle 96kg wrestling final at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 25, 2010. Iran won the gold medal, Uzbekistan the silver and the bronze was shared by India and Japan.

Iran's chief negotiator Saeed Jalili arrives in the foyer of the conference center near the Swiss mission to the United Nations on December 6, 2010 in Geneva. World powers and Iran have begun talks in Geneva on Tehran's controversial nuclear programme, 14 months after negotiations broke off.

Iran's chief negotiator Saeed Jalili leaves the conference center near the mission of Switzerland to the United Nations on the second day of nuclear talks on December 7, 2010 in Geneva. World powers and Iran began talks in Geneva on Tehran's controversial nuclear programme, 14 months after negotiations broke off.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (R) shakes hands with Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki during an official meeting in Tehran October 18, 2010, during a one-day visit to Iran in a bid to win support for his premiership after an inconclusive March 7 general election.

Gold medalist Saeid Abdvali of Iran celebrates with a national flag after beating Darkhan Bayakhmetov of Kazakhstan in the men�s Greco-Roman 66 kg wrestling competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 21, 2010. Iran won the gold medal and Kazakhstan the silver while the bronze was shared by Japan and India.

Gold medallist Reza Yazdani (L) of Iran celebrates after beating Kurban Kurbanov of Uzbekistan in the men�s Freestyle 96kg wrestling final competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 25, 2010. Iran won the gold medal, Uzbekistan the silver and the bronze was shared by India and Japan.

Gold medallist Reza Yazdani of Iran (top) competes with silver medallist Kurban Kurbanov of Uzbekistan in the men�s Freestyle 96kg wrestling final at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 25, 2010. Iran won the gold medal, Uzbekistan the silver and the bronze was shared by India and Japan.

Iran's chief negotiator Saeed Jalili (L) enters the conference center near the mission of Switzerland to the United Nations on the second day of nuclear talks on December 7, 2010 in Geneva. World powers and Iran began talks in Geneva on Tehran's controversial nuclear programme, 14 months after negotiations broke off.

Iran's chief negotiator Saeed Jalili is seen next to a picture of nuclear scientist Majid Shahriari who was killed last week in a car bombing during a press conference closing nuclear talks on December 7, 2010 in Geneva. Jalili said that world powers and Iran agreed only to further 'talks based on cooperation' and that everything else was 'not true,' suggesting disagreement with the EU's top envoy's declaration.

Iran's chief negotiator Saeed Jalili leaves the conference center near the mission of Switzerland to the United Nations on the second day of nuclear talks on December 7, 2010 in Geneva. World powers and Iran began talks in Geneva on Tehran's controversial nuclear programme, 14 months after negotiations broke off.

Iran's Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki speaks during a press conference in Tehran, 21 December 2005. Mottaki said Iran will insist on the right to enrich uranium on its own soil during key talks that opened in Vienna today with the European Union.

Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi (L) and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki review an honour guard upon the latter's arrival in Tehran on October 18, 2010 to garner support for his premiership bid, as his chief rival Iyad Allawi accused Iran of meddling in Baghdad's political affairs.

Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi (R) meets with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki (L) on October 18, 2010 in Tehran, the second stop in a regional tour aimed at garnering support for his premiership bid, as his chief rival Iyad Allawi accused Iran of meddling in Baghdad's political affairs.

Gold medalist Saeid Abdvali of Iran poses on the podium during the awards ceremony of the men�s Greco-Roman 66 kg wrestling competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 21, 2010. Iran won gold, Kazakhstan silver and the bronze was shared by India and Japan.

Gold medalist Saeid Abdvali of Iran celebrates with a national flag after beating Darkhan Bayakhmetov of Kazakhstan in the men�s Greco-Roman 66 kg wrestling competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 21, 2010. Iran won the gold medal and Kazakhstan the silver while the bronze was shared by Japan and India.

Gold medallist Jamal Mirzaei of Iran poses on the podium during the awards ceremony of the men�s Freestyle 84kg wrestling competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 24, 2010. Iran won gold, South Korea silver and the bronze was shared by Mongolia and Kazakhstan.

Iran's chief negotiator Saeed Jalili (C) enters the conference center near the mission of Switzerland to the United Nations on the second day of nuclear talks on December 7, 2010 in Geneva. World powers and Iran began talks in Geneva on Tehran's controversial nuclear programme, 14 months after negotiations broke off.

Iran's chief negotiator Saeed Jalili looks on during a press conference closing nuclear talks on December 7, 2010 in Geneva. Jalili said that world powers and Iran agreed only to further 'talks based on cooperation' and that everything else was 'not true,' suggesting disagreement with the EU's top envoy's declaration.