Tehran: A bomb blast outside a prison in the southwest Iranian city of Ilam wounded several people on Saturday, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported.

"Moments ago a bomb was detonated in front of the central prison of the city of Ilam," Fars said, adding that the wounded were being taken to hospital.

"The explosion, which took place during a visitation period, led to the injury of a number of individuals," Fars said, giving no further detail.

Bomb attacks are relatively rare in the Islamic Republic, which borders volatile Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.