Iran’s state television reported explosions near the heavily guarded facility in the country’s south, which is home to the country’s nuclear program.
State TV said the two explosions took place inside the compound, located near the southern city of Isfahan, near the border with Iraq.
An Isfahan security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak to the media, said a number of terror groups — including Al-Qaida and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) — have been planning attacks against the complex.
He said that after hearing the explosions, Iranian security officials started searches in and around the complex.
In Washington, the U.S. State Department said its officials were aware of the explosions and were closely monitoring developments.
Iran has been particularly targeted by car bombings in recent years. Most recently, the truck bombing at the Iranian parliament in February killed at least 12 people and wounded nearly 50 others.
Tensions have been high between Iran and the West over its nuclear program, in which Tehran is allowed under its deal with world powers to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.
Yet Iran and the West have reached a tentative agreement to allow the development of a missile system called the Khorramshahr for hitting the shorter distance targets such as ships and aircraft.
But Israel and the United States have said this is a “first step” toward the development of a ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei this week said Israel cannot be allowed to be supplied with nuclear weapons and called for the destruction of the Jewish state.
Khamenei was speaking at Friday prayers at Tehran University.
“They will not be allowed to be supplied with nuclear weapons and neither will the Zionist regime. No God except God will accept its existence. … The Zionist regime will go to hell,” Khamenei said.
Khamenei’s remarks signal a major escalation in the nuclear confrontation with Israel and could spark fresh talk of regional military conflict.