State TV delays scheduled address by Iran's Rouhani

A scheduled television address by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was aired nearly an hour late on Wednesday after what the official IRNA news agency said was a block by the state broadcasting chief.The news agency gave no explanation for the unexpected disruption by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) chief Ezatollah Zarghami, even after "all elements of this live address had been fixed."State television instead continued with its regular programming for nearly an hour until the live broadcast finally went ahead. It did not provide any explanation.Zarghami, who was appointed directly by Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is considered a hardliner.Rouhani's scheduled address was first announced by Iranian media earlier Wednesday, a day after the president lashed out at critics of a landmark nuclear deal his government struck with major powers in November.