Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad denies that he has been seriously sick and says he has just caught a cold and has been a bit tired.

"Like anybody else I might get a cold or become tired sometimes, but I am not seriously ailing," he said Sunday on Iranian state TV.

Ahmadinejad was reacting to recent reports suggesting he was seriously ill.

On Wednesday, Ahmadinejad cancelled a speech because of a cold exhaustion caused by long hours of work, stimulating rumors on some news sites that he may be severely ill, and may not be able to participate in the Presidential elections next year.

There had also been media reports that Ahmadinejad needed medical care because of low blood pressure.

An Iranian Parliament member, Mohammad Ismail Kowsari, has accused political rivals of using Ahmadinejad's cold and exhaustion as a pretext to spread rumors about his serious illness.

On Sunday Ahmadinejad received three new ambassadors and met with Iran's provincial governors.

MVZ/MMA