AN EXPLOSION reported over the skies of Iran was actually an ALIEN UFO blasted on the orders of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, conspiracists have crazily claimed.

The outlandish allegation has been made among a string of bizarre theories that the world is going to end in late September - either as a result of ferocious earthquakes brought about by a 'Blood Moon' event on September 28, or due to a huge asteroid strike anytime from September 23 onwards.

Despite NASA publicly denying that an asteroid could strike Earth any time this century, conspiracy theorists remain undeterred.

The latest off-the-wall suggestion is that an alien invasion will signal the start of the apocalypse later this month, but will be dismissed by officials as a natural disaster.

This theory has been sparked by reports of meteors burning up over the skies of Iran from July 30, with some space rocks landing.

But it has now been claimed the event was actually a joint operation between Iran and Russia to blow up an alien craft that "had been sent here to monitor Earth before it is destroyed at the end of September".

Conspiracists jumped on the limited coverage of the meteorite as proof it was a cover-up to prevent global panic ahead of a cataclysmic asteroid hit this month.

Website The Daily Sheeple, which vows to "wake up" internet users to the truth, reported: "While NASA did put out a report debunking claims that an asteroid would wipe out Earth this coming September, people might have a hard time believing them when they can’t even respond to a real meteor impact in Iran."

However, another conspiracy site went event further to suggest the meteorite was subject to Russian action.

UFOsightingshotspot.co.uk reported: "A disturbing new report being circulated in the Kremlin today by the Ministry of Defense (MoD) states that 'significant elements' of the newly created Aerospace Defence Forces (VKO) and the 22nd Spetsnaz (Special Forces) Brigade are currently being deployed throughout the Islamic Republic of Iran.

"And are working in conjunction with the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution (IRGC) to 'inspect and identify' items within the massive debris field that resulted from the 31 July shoot down of an alien spacecraft."

The website added that the supposed reconnaissance was ahead of a forthcoming alien attack at the end of this month.

It said: "The identification of this alien spacecraft, this report continues, was made by the newly created Aerospace Defence Forces (VKO) on 29 June after it attempted to 'attack and destroy' another spacecraft entering the atmosphere of our Earth over the State of Texas."

Theorists also claim President Putin ordered the removal of the "UFO debris" back to Russia.

However, naturally, most remain convinced it was just a meteorite, as initially reported, and have dismissed such wild speculation.