Amateur video shows smoke billowing out from an Iranian military base near Tehran following an explosion which has killed at least 27 people and injured 16 more. Officials said it was an accident which happened as troops were moving munitions at a base in Bidganeh, near the town of Shahriar, some 45km (28 miles) west of Tehran.
While there was no indication of any attack, the explosion shook homes and rattled windows for miles around at a time of mounting tensions with Israel over Iran's nuclear program.
"Today at 13:30 (0900 GMT), an explosion happened in one of the Revolutionary Guards' bases while a consignment of explosive devices was being moved out from the arsenal, besides that some munitions in the arsenal exploded which created a terrifying sound," Sharif said.
Residents in western suburbs of Tehran told Reuters they had felt the blast, with some assuming it to be a low-level earthquake.
Fire at the base continued to rage for hours as emergency services rushed to the scene. All of the surrounding streets were closed and reporters were kept away. Some media reported there had been two explosions and the head of Iran's Red Crescent organisation said there was a risk of further blasts.
Mahmoud Mozafar told the Mehr news agency that only six paramedics had been allowed into the Amir Al-Momenin military base and that thick smoke was hampering the rescue operation.
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