Israel's defence chief, Ehud Barak wants more explosions similar to the one that struck a missile base in Iran on Saturday that killed 17 soldiers, including the key figure behind the Islamic country's missile programme.

"I do not know, but may there be more such explosions," Barak was quoted as telling Army Radio on Sunday when asked about the extent of the damage caused by the explosion, according to Israel National News and AFP.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard said the explosion at military base in Bid Ganeh, 20 kilometres west of the capital Tehran, was an accident.

Revolutionary Guards spokesman Ramezan Sharif said soldiers were moving ammunition out of the depot when the explosion happened killing Major General Hassan Moqaddam, who started the country's missile programme.

But another top Revolutionary Guards commander admitted Monday that Moqaddam was a potential target of Iran's enemies because of his work.

"Due to his role... the enemy always wanted to identify and eliminate him," Brigadier General Abbas Khani told the official IRNA news agency, according to AFP.

Iran's state television broadcasted Monday the funeral honoring seven of the fatalities, including Moqaddam. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attended the funeral held in Tehran.