TEHRAN, Iran – Iranian state television reported Wednesday that an explosion near the town of Deilam, about 60 miles from a nuclear facility, may have been caused by a fuel tank dropping from an Iranian plane. The state-run television provided few details but said local officials had told it that may have been the cause of the unidentified explosion.

An Iran’s Interior Ministry said Wednesday he could not confirm earlier television reports there had been an explosion in the area nor confirm anti-aircraft fire in the region, which is about 60 miles north of the Bushehr nuclear facility.

Russia has completed construction work at the Bushehr nuclear reactor in Iran, but it is not yet operational. The United States has expressed fears that the $800 million Bushehr deal could help Tehran build nuclear weapons.

Russia says that having Iran ship spent nuclear fuel back to Russia will make any such projects impossible.

“We cannot confirm the reports at this point. We are checking,” Interior Ministry spokesman Jahanbakhsh Khanjani said.

Two residents of the Deilam area contacted by The Associated Press said they had not heard any explosions in the area.