Fire at Iranian space centre kills three scientists

Three researchers died "because of a fire in one of the buildings of the Space Research Centre", Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi was quoted saying.

Iran plans to launch a satellite into orbit despite US criticism that such launches benefit its ballistic missile program.

In January, Iran launched a satellite that failed to reach the required speed on detachment from the rocket in the third stage.

The country has plans to launch another low Earth orbit satellite, named Doosti, ("Friendship" in Farsi).

The satelittes are intended to gather information on environmental change in Iran, President Hassan Rouhani said.

"The satellite will give us all the information we need, and we will prove to the world that we are a country of science," Rouhani said.

Iran's young space programme has sent several short-lived satellites into orbit over the past decade, and in 2013 launched a monkey into space.

Agencies contributed to this report.

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