Iranians gather to see the destroyed bus in Zahedan. Eighteen people were killed on Wednesday in a car bomb explosion in Iran's southeastern city of Zahedan, the official IRNA news agency reported.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Eighteen people were killed on Wednesday in a car bomb explosion in Iran's southeastern city of Zahedan, the official IRNA news agency reported.

    The explosion occurred around 6:30 a.m.(0300 GMT) in Ahmadabad district on the outskirts of Zahedan, the report said.

    The bomb was planted in a car and exploded as the bus, belonging to the ground forces of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, passed by, the agency reported, adding it was not clear if those killed were members of the Guards.

    "In this act 18 Zahedan citizens have been martyred. Rebels and those who create insecurity martyred these people in a terrorist act by laying a trap close to a bus," Qassim Rezai, a military commander, was quoted by IRNA as saying.

    He added that a number of people were also wounded.

    There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Rezai blamed "insurgents and elements of insecurity" for the attack.

    Another Guards commander, Mohammd Javad Ethna Ashari, said that a suspect has been arrested, the student ISNA agency reported.

    Zahedan is the capital of Sistan-Baluchestan province that borders both Afghanistan and Pakistan.