An Iranian military aircraft crashed at a Tehran airport yesterday, killing at least 37 people, state-run television reported, the latest in a string of aviation disasters to hit the Islamic Republic.

It said one person was in hospital after surviving the crash in the Russian-designed Antonov-74, which was being used by the Revolutionary Guards. Two people were originally reported to have survived but one later died, state television said.

The Guards, the ideological wing of the Islamic Republic's military, had earlier said the plane was carrying 32 Guards and six crew. All the crew were killed.

Television pictures showed plane parts scattered along the runway and a charred fuselage. A crane was lifting up part of the plane after flames had been doused. The tail painted in military colours was one of the few parts still recognisable.