TEHRAN Iranian climbers have for the first time scaled the world's highest peak, the government said Wednesday. Four Iranian mountaineers, accompanied by two Nepalese guides, reached the 8,848-meter (29,028-feet) mount everest at 9:45 a.m. local time (0400 GMT) Wednesday. hamidreza Olanj, 29, of Hamedan; Mohammad Oraz, 29, of Naghadeh; Mohammad Najarian, 33, of Kelardasht and Jalal ghasabani, 39, of Nahavand, reached the peak using the southeast ridge route.

Some members of the Iranian team also are attempting to climb the nearby 8,515 meter (28,100-feet) Mount Lhotse, the world's fourth tallest peak.