Stabbed Iranian journalist Pouria Zeraati said 鈥榝eeling much better but recovery takes time鈥�

Iranian journalist Pouria Zeraati was stabbed by three men and hospitalized with injuries to his leg. (X: @pouriazeraati)
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  • Iran International presenter talked to BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday about the attack outside his home

LONDON: Stabbed Iranian journalist Pouria Zeraati said Tuesday he was 鈥渇eeling much better鈥� but he is still far from fully recovering.

The Iran International presenter spoke to BBC Radio 4鈥檚 鈥淭oday鈥� program about the attack and the toll it has taken on his life.

鈥淚鈥檓 feeling much better physically, but as you know, mental recovery takes time,鈥� Zeraati said, adding that 鈥渢he show must go on鈥�.

The journalist was attacked late last month outside his home in south London. He was stabbed by three men and hospitalized with injuries to his leg.

Recalling the moment of the assault, Zeraati told BBC Radio 4 that he was going to his car to head to the studio when a 鈥渟uspicious鈥� looking man approached him and asked for some change.

鈥淗e pretended to be asking for change, as I was saying, 鈥榚xcuse me I don鈥檛 have any change,鈥� and I was going to unlock the door, the second man approached,鈥� he said.

鈥淭hey grabbed me from the front, very strong, I couldn鈥檛 move my hands鈥� before one of the attackers stabbed him in the leg.

The pair immediately fled in a car that was waiting to drive them to Heathrow Airport.

鈥淚 just noticed all my belongings are with me, including my mobile phones, my watch, my AirPods, my wallet with cash in it, so the moment I just saw everything is with me, I noticed this is regarding my job, because it wasn鈥檛 a robbery,鈥� he told 鈥淭oday.鈥�

He was taken to the hospital shortly after and later discharged. He is currently staying in a safe place under police supervision.

The Metropolitan Police said the suspects had left the UK but are still investigating the reason behind the attack.

Staff of Iran International have previously been targeted by threats linked to the Iranian regime, and the dissident broadcast had been listed as a terrorist organization in Iran for its coverage of Iran鈥檚 2022 uprising.

Iran鈥檚 charge d鈥檃ffaires in the UK, which serves as the head of its diplomatic mission, has denied any link between the Iranian regime and the attack on Zeraati.

The journalist returned to work earlier this month as a way to 鈥渟end the message back鈥�.

鈥淚鈥檓 here, the show is going on, and my audience is still watching this show,鈥� Zeraati said.