A young man attacked a conservative Iranian cleric during Friday prayers in the central city of Isfahan, unharmed.
"A young man with a problem probably suddenly attacked me and couldn't do anything but shoot a blow to my neck but it was controlled," The Imam of Friday Prayer in Isfahan, Ayatollah Yusuf Tabtabainejad, who is the iranian leader's representative in the city, told state television. His motives must be investigated."
Iranian media reported that the young man was arrested by security forces in the country following his attack on Imam Juma Isfahan.
According to the semi-official Fars news agency, the unidentified young man dna from Tabatabai-Nejad while speaking to some worshippers after Friday prayers and tried to stab him in the neck with a "sharp metal object".
According to the report, he was quickly detained by mosque guards and the case was under investigation.
Iran has suffered unrest for weeks after food prices jumped and public anger at the government following the collapse of a building that killed people and blamed it for corruption and lax safety measures.
Attacks on clerics and government officials in Iran rarely occur after the authorities tightened security measures and suppressed dissent.
Over the past months, there have been chants against advocates during protest rallies in Iran over rising prices and reduced government support.
In early April, a knife attack at Imam Reza's mausoleum in the northeastern city of Mashhad killed three preachers.
Tabatabai Nejad is known as an outspoken opponent of social media and music.