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Iran explosion at Revolutionary Guards military base | Iran explosion at Revolutionary Guards military base |
(40 minutes later) | |
Twenty-seven soldiers have been killed in an explosion at a military base near Iran's capital Tehran, officials say. | |
The blast occurred when weapons were being moved inside a Revolutionary Guards depot, a spokesman for the elite unit told state TV. | |
Windows in nearby buildings were shattered and the blast was heard in central Tehran, 40 km (25 miles) away. | Windows in nearby buildings were shattered and the blast was heard in central Tehran, 40 km (25 miles) away. |
Two hours after the explosion a fire still raged and there were traffic jams on nearby roads, a local reporter said. | Two hours after the explosion a fire still raged and there were traffic jams on nearby roads, a local reporter said. |
Local MP Hossein Garousi said "a large part of an ammunition depot exploded," parliament's website reported. | Local MP Hossein Garousi said "a large part of an ammunition depot exploded," parliament's website reported. |
Revolutionary Guards spokesman Ramezan Sharif did not say what had caused the "accident" in the village of Bidganeh, near the city of Karaj. | |
"Some of the casualties are reported to be in a critical condition," he said. | "Some of the casualties are reported to be in a critical condition," he said. |
An emergency worker said that 12 people had been taken to hospital. | An emergency worker said that 12 people had been taken to hospital. |
Karaj resident Kaveer told the BBC's Newshour programme that the sound was "deafening". | Karaj resident Kaveer told the BBC's Newshour programme that the sound was "deafening". |
"We were kind of shocked. I just ran out of the house and looked around," he said. | "We were kind of shocked. I just ran out of the house and looked around," he said. |
Economic force | Economic force |
An elite military force, the Revolutionary Guard was set up shortly after the 1979 Iranian revolution to defend the country's Islamic system. | An elite military force, the Revolutionary Guard was set up shortly after the 1979 Iranian revolution to defend the country's Islamic system. |
It has since become a major military, political and economic force in Iran. | It has since become a major military, political and economic force in Iran. |
The Revolutionary Guard has been targeted by UN sanctions aimed at pressuring Iran to halt uranium enrichment. | The Revolutionary Guard has been targeted by UN sanctions aimed at pressuring Iran to halt uranium enrichment. |
There have been occasional unexplained explosions in Iran before. | There have been occasional unexplained explosions in Iran before. |
Eighteen people were killed in a blast at a Revolutionary Guards base in the north-western Lorestan province in October 2010. | Eighteen people were killed in a blast at a Revolutionary Guards base in the north-western Lorestan province in October 2010. |
The latest blast comes at a time of heightened tensions over Iran's nuclear ambitions. | The latest blast comes at a time of heightened tensions over Iran's nuclear ambitions. |
The UN's nuclear watchdog the IAEA released a report on Tuesday which, correspondents say, prompted new fears that Iran's nuclear programme has a military objective. | The UN's nuclear watchdog the IAEA released a report on Tuesday which, correspondents say, prompted new fears that Iran's nuclear programme has a military objective. |
There has also been speculation in Israel's media that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering ordering strikes against Iran's nuclear sites, in the hope of stalling or ending its programme. | There has also been speculation in Israel's media that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering ordering strikes against Iran's nuclear sites, in the hope of stalling or ending its programme. |
Iran says its nuclear programme has purely civilian aims. | Iran says its nuclear programme has purely civilian aims. |