A huge explosion hit a military base in the west of the Iranian capital shortly after 1 pm (0930 GMT) on Saturday media quoted officials as saying, without giving any immediate word on any casualties.

A huge explosion hit a military base in the west of the Iranian capital shortly after 1 pm (0930 GMT) on Saturday; media quoted officials as saying, without giving any immediate word on any casualties.

The explosion hit "a military base" some 20 kilometers west of the city center, Alireza Jane, responsible for security issues in the Tehran governor's office, told the ISNA news agency.

The blast shattered the windows of residential neighborhoods in the western suburbs of Tehran, witnesses told AFP. It was heard in the city centre.
Hossein Garousi, a lawmaker

from the area, said the blast occurred when "a large part of an ammunition depot exploded," parliament's website reported.

The arms depot belongs to the elite Revolutionary Guards, according to a statement on their website, which did not give further details.

A helicopter and ambulances have been dispatched to the scene, ISNA quoted an official at Tehran's medical emergency center, Hassan Abbasi, as saying.