Iranian state TV denies reported assassination attempt against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Iran state TV denies presidential convoy attacked

TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian state TV has denied reports that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad faced an assassination attempt.

A conservative website reported that a handmade grenade exploded near the president’s convoy Wednesday as he was on his way to address a crowd in western Iran, but the leader was not harmed. The president gave his speech as planned and it was broadcast live on state TV.

Iran’s state-run Press TV, the government’s main English-language broadcast arm, says Ahmadinejad’s office has denied the allegation, insisting “no such attack had happened.”

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — A handmade grenade exploded Wednesday near President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s convoy in western Iran, but the leader was not harmed, a conservative website reported.

The website, khabaronline.ir, said the blast took place in Hamedan as Ahmadinejad was on his way to address a crowd. The president gave his speech as planned and it was broadcast live on state TV.

One person was arrested in connection with the attack, the report said, adding that the president’s car was about 100 yards (meter) away from the site of the blast.

The website said it had no information about whether other people were injured.

“The explosion caused a lot of smoke,” it said.

Officials could not immediately be reached to confirm the report.