The route includes stopovers in Quetta, near the Afghan border, and in the Iranian capital, Tehran.

BBC: Birmingham to Pakistan bus route launch delayed

At Tuesday's news conference in the Iranian capital, Tehran, Mehmanparast said his country needs nuclear fuel from the plants to meet its long-term energy needs, to move toward self-sufficiency.

CNN: U.S.: Time running out for Iran

Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has just been warmly received in the Iranian capital, Tehran, a reflection of the realpolitik that has kept links open despite the Islamic Republic's international isolation.

ECONOMIST: Turkey and the Middle East

At a mosque in the center of the Syrian capital, crowds of Iranian pilgrims gather to visit a historic Shiite shrine, the women in long, black cloaks and the men chanting Shiite prayers with deep, public emotion.

NPR: Iran and Syria: An Alliance Shaped by Mutual Foes

Following a very Russian period of confusion, involving a company called American Capital run by a 27-year-old Iranian, it emerged that Mr Berezovsky had somehow gained control.

ECONOMIST: Russia��s unlikely communist

As well as Mr Jalili's visit to Damascus, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has been holding talks in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

BBC: Syria crisis: Iran pledges support for 'vital partner'

The 48 men were taken to the Sheraton hotel in the Syrian capital, Damascus, where they would be received by the Iranian ambassador, Iranian sources told BBC Arabic.

BBC: Iranians held by Syria rebels released