Hassan Danaifar was able to continue with his day despite injuries to his face, an embassy spokesman said.
“The incident occurred Tuesday at the main entrance to the Green Zone, when a bomb detector reported a problem, but the driver of the vehicle [carrying the ambassador] did not notice and continued on his way. The barrier then hit the vehicle.” said the Iraqi security official.
But an Iranian state TV channel offered a different version of events, saying the ambassador and his companions were injured and their car sustained damages due to a “suspicious measure” by the Iraqi guards.
“Yesterday, while the vehicle carrying Iran’s ambassador to Iraq was on its way to enter the Green Zone, the forces deployed in the zone took a suspicious measure and let go of the security barrier,” said Iranian television’s Channel Two.
The channel also announced that Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki “immediately paid a visit” to the ambassador and ordered a committee to investigate whether the security guards’ actions were intentional. Iraqi officials said nothing about any visit or investigation.
The Iraqi embassy is just outside the main entry to the Green Zone.