Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reads verses from the Muslim holy Koran before his departure to perform the annual Muslim pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, as first vice president Parviz Davoodi (R) watches, at Tehran's Mehrabad airport, 17 December 2007. Ahmadinejad is attending the hajj at the invitation of Saudi King Abdullah and will become the first Iranian leader to take part in the annual Muslim pilgrimage in the history of the Islamic republic. Getty Images logo Getty Images 26 months ago

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reads verses from the Muslim holy Koran before his departure to perform the annual Muslim pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, as first vice president Parviz Davoodi (R) watches, at Tehran's Mehrabad airport, 17 December 2007. Ahmadinejad is attending the hajj at the invitation of Saudi King Abdullah and will become the first Iranian leader to take part in the annual Muslim pilgrimage in the history of the Islamic republic.

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  1. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left, submits next year's budget bill to the parliament speaker Ali Larijani, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010. Iran's official news agency says the country has planned next year's budget based on an oil price of US$60 per barrel, nearly double the price from last year.
  2. EDITORS' NOTE: Reuters and other foreign media are subject to Iranian restrictions on leaving the office to report, film or take pictures in Tehran. Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (C) speaks with lawmakers as he enters parliament to present his proposed budget in Tehran January 24, 2010.
  3. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, right, welcomes President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdes during an official arrival ceremony for him, at the presidency, in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010.
  4. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, right, and President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdes during an official arrival ceremony for Jagdes at the presidency, in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010.
  5. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, right, welcomes President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdes during an official arrival ceremony for him, at the presidency, in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010.
  6. Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov, center, and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left, speak with Ahamed Mohamad Ali, president of Islamic Development Bank, right, during the inauguration ceremony for a new natural gas pipeline at its gauging station in the southeastern Sarahs district near the Iranian border, Turkmenistan, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010. A new gas pipeline that will ensure a sharp increase in natural gas deliveries from Turkmenistan to neighboring Iran was inaugurated Wednesday in the Central Asian nation's latest success at diversifying it export routes.
  7. Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov, right, and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left, seen during the inauguration ceremony for a new natural gas pipeline at its gauging station in the southeastern Sarahs district near the Iranian border, Turkmenistan, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010. A new gas pipeline that will ensure a sharp increase in natural gas deliveries from Turkmenistan to neighboring Iran was inaugurated Wednesday in the Central Asian nation's latest success at diversifying it export routes.
  8. Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov, left, and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, right, seen during the inauguration ceremony for a new natural gas pipeline at its gauging station in the southeastern Sarahs district near the Iranian border, Turkmenistan, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010. A new gas pipeline that will ensure a sharp increase in natural gas deliveries from Turkmenistan to neighboring Iran was inaugurated Wednesday in the Central Asian nation's latest success at diversifying it export routes.
  9. Jordan's King Abdullah (R) and his wife Queen Rania walk after a session at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos January 29, 2010.
  10. Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero (R) talks to Jordan's King Abdullah (C) and Jordan's Prime Minister Samir Rifai after their arrival for a private meeting at Moncloa Palace in Madrid January 27, 2010.
  11. Jordan's King Abdullah, left , shakes hands with Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010. King Abdullah is on a private visit to Spain.
  12. Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah (R) meets Britain's Middle East envoy Tony Blair at the Royal Palace in Riyadh January 24, 2010.
  13. Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah (R) welcomes Britain's Middle East envoy Tony Blair at the Royal Palace in Riyadh January 24, 2010.
  14. Jordan's King Abdullah (R) speaks with U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell during a meeting at the Royal Palace in Amman January 24, 2010.
  15. Jordan's King Abdullah, right, meets with US Middle East envoy George Mitchell at the Royal Palace in Amman on Sunday Jan. 24, 2010. Israel's prime minister declared on Sunday that his country would retain parts of the West Bank forever _ a statement sure to provoke Palestinians and complicate the year-old peace mission of a visiting U.S. envoy. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu laid claim to the disputed territory just hours after meeting with George Mitchell, the Obama administration's Middle East envoy.
  16. Oman�s Sultan Qaboos (L) welcomes Jordan's King Abdullah (C) and his son, Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein, upon their arrival at Muscat Airport January 22, 2010.

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