Crossword Genius

States answers to restrict explosion in crime (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

america

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'states' is the definition.
(I know that America is a great power)

'answers to restrict explosion in crime' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
an anagram of 'crime' is 'meric' which is located in the answer.
'answers' could be 'aa' (an abbreviation for answer written twice) and 'aa' is found in the remaining letters.
This accounts for all the letters.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for america that I've seen before include "Camera I turn on the continent" , "Continent consisting of two great land masses" , "Ira came from the continent" , "Curious camera I take to the continent" , "Land of the free and home of the brave?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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