TEHRAN, Iran—Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard says a commander killed in an explosion at an ammunition depot west of Tehran was a key figure in Iran's missile program.

Gen. Hasan Moghaddam was killed together with 16 other Guard members Saturday at a military site outside Bidganeh village, 25 miles (40 kilometers) southwest of Tehran. The Guard says the accidental explosion occurred while military personnel were transporting munitions.

In a statement released Sunday, the Guard praised Moghaddam, saying the military force will not forget his "effective role in the development of the country's defense."

The Revolutionary Guard is a key Iranian military force closely tied to the country's powerful clerics.