Attack on Pakistani Ambassador in Iran

TEHRAN: Pakistan's ambassador in Iran Mohammad Baksh Abbasi survived an assasination attempt in Tehran, on Tuesday.

Foreign office spokesman Abdul Basit has confirmed the attack but said the ambassador is safe.

The foreign office spokesman has also denied rumours that two guards of the ambassador were killed in the attack. Basit said the attacker tried to stab Abbasi but his guard intercepted the attacker.

One guard of the ambassador has been reported injured in the attack.

Meanwhile, a statement by the foreign ministry of Iran said that the ambassador was injured and taken to hospital when his car was attacked by an Afghan citizen.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told state-run television, "The Pakistan ambassador's car has been attacked by an Afghan. The ambassador has been injured and he is in hospital. The Afghan has been arrested."

But Tehran police chief said the ambassador was injured in a confrontation.

"The ambassador went to a gym several times a week without his bodyguards. This afternoon while he was on his way he had a clash with a 21-year-old Afghan, he was injured on the head and fell," police chief Hossein Sajedi-Nia told ISNA news agency.

"Policemen appeared on the scene after phone calls by people and arrested that person," he said. "The ambassador is well now and the detained man is being interrogated."