A fire in the Irans space research center has killed three scientists, semi-official ISNA news agency said, the Associated Press (AP) reported. The Sunday report quotes Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi as saying that three researchers have died "because of a fire in one of the buildings of the Space Research Center." Jahromi did not elaborate in the report. Iran plans to launch a satellite into orbit despite US criticism that such launches benefit its ballistic missile program. According to AP, in January, the country launched a satellite, but authorities said it failed to reach the "necessary speed" in the third stage of its launch.