[Romulus]

Iran is a sovereign nation with no problems accessing commercial jet aircraft. If they want to weaponize one, why would they bother with all the cloak-and-dagger (and get China all POed besides)? Makes no sense. No, I don’t have a better theory. North Korea is squirrelly enough for anything, but the data don’t point that way. Somalia/Yemen is my best guess, but if so, why have there been no ransom demands? I’m stumped.

[Mat_Helm]

Export restrictions supposedly prevents Iran from buying a 777 or from someone else selling them one. They have lots of 747’s in Tehran collecting dust or are being cannibalized hanger queens to keep others flying. They buy Russian aircraft. They scour the earth to keep their C-130’s and F-14’s and F-4 Phantoms flying and they have no indigenous fighter or transport aircraft.