7 August 2012 Updated at 11:03 ET
Syria crisis: Iran pledges support for 'vital partner'
President Assad has not been seen on Syrian television for more than two weeks
Syria conflict
Fear and hunger in Aleppo
The rise of jihadist groups
Fighting and refugees in maps
Aleppo's battleground school
Iran's security chief has told President Bashar al-Assad that Syria is part of a vital regional alliance that Tehran will not allow to be broken
link-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19160410