Confusion over origin of Iran explosion

By The Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran -- An explosion was reported Wednesday in southern Iran near a nuclear power plant, with state-run media offering conflicting explanations for what happened, from blasting for dam construction, a fuel tank dropping from an Iranian plane, and friendly fire.

The explosion came as Iran's intelligence chief accused the United States of flying spy drones over its nuclear sites and threatened to shoot down the aircraft. A spokesman for Iran's Interior Ministry said the blast was heard minutes after an Iranian airplane flew over the southwestern port town of Deylam, about 110 miles north of the nuclear plant, and had not been caused by a hostile attack.

A top security official said the blast came during construction of a dam, state-run television reported.

"The explosion that occurred in Deylam region was the result of detonating a path for dam-building operations," Ali Agha Mohammadi, a spokesman of the Supreme National Security Council, was quoted as saying.

Mohammadi said Iran's enemies were not in a position to attack Iran. "Such reports are mostly a psychological war," he said.

Earlier, state television said the explosion may have been caused by a fuel tank dropping from an Iranian plane. Rescue teams were sent to the area, state-run al-Alam television said, without elaborating.

The Interior Ministry spokesman, Jahanbakhsh Khanjani, said there was a military base at Bushehr, and Iranian air force planes routinely fly in that area.

"There is a big possibility that it was a friendly fire by mistake. Several such mistaken friendly fire incidents have been reported there in recent days," he said.

Asked if military maneuvers were taking place in the region, he deferred to the Defense Ministry, whose officials were not immediately available.

White House press secretary Scott McClellan, asked if there was no U.S. involvement in the incident in Iran, replied: "That's correct."

CIA Director Porter Goss, at a Senate briefing, said, "I know nothing in my official position."

Goss said he had heard the media report about the falling fuel tank, but added, "I have no idea if that's true or not."

Israeli military officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, quickly denied any connection with the explosion.

Oil prices hit an overnight high of $48.30 after reports of the explosion and after OPEC predicted increased oil demand.

The United States accuses Iran of having a secret program to manufacture nuclear weapons. Iran denies this, saying its nuclear program is entirely for generating electricity.

The Washington Post reported the drones had been flying over Iran from U.S. military bases in Iraq and were equipped with air filters to pick up traces of nuclear activity.