Three scientists have died after a fire at Iran’s Space Research Centre.
The researchers were killed on Sunday, according to telecommunications minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi.
It is believed that the blaze broke out in one of the buildings at the centre in Tehran.
The country has been hoping to launch a satellite into orbit, despite the US claiming this could benefit its missile programme.
In January, the country launched a satellite but authorities said it failed to reach the "necessary speed" in the third stage of its launch.
Iran has sent several short-lived satellites into orbit over the past decade, and in 2013 launched a monkey into space.
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