Mohammad-Reza Bakhshi-Mohebbi has twice climbed mount Taftan, at 4,042m the highest peak in Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province. "Taftan is volcanic - like much of this region - but it emits only steam," says the geology professor. "We can say it's half active."

The same can be said for politics in a province bordering Afghanistan and Pakistan. Sistan-Baluchestan is known for lawlessness, born partly of smuggling of drugs (in) and petrol (out).