Iran has denied one of its researchers has invented a time machine.
Last week it was reported - somewhat sceptically - that 27-year-old inventor Ali Razeghi has submitted a design for an 'Aryayek Time Travelling Machine' to the Centre for Strategic Inventions.
The device was supposed to be able to look five to eight years into a user's life, and tell them - via a print-out - what their future had in store.
The news originated from a report by the semi-official Fars news agency.
"My invention easily fits into the size of a personal computer case and can predict details of the next five-eight years of the life of its users. It will not take you into the future, it will bring the future to you," Razeghi apparently told the news site.
"The Americans are trying to make this invention by spending millions of dollars on it where I have already achieved it by a fraction of the cost," he said, and added, "The reason that we are not launching our prototype at this stage is that the Chinese will steal the idea and produce it in millions overnight."
After being picked up by the Telegraph and others, the story made its way around the world faster than a DeLorean packed full of fresh garbage.
But now authorities in the country have denied the reports.
"Making scientific claims is free for all, but registration of these claims as inventions should undergo certain legal stages based on scientific proofs and evidence," said Iran's deputy minister of science Mohammad Mehdinejad Nouri, on Friday.
"Such a claim has not been registered in Iran's State Organisation for Registration of Deeds and Properties," he added.
So that appears to be that.
On the other hand, if you had invented a time machine would you really tell anyone about it?