Iranian state media reported Sunday that the Argentine government had seized a Boeing 747 belonging to Iran Mahan Air and leased it to a Venezuelan state-owned airline at Buenos Aires airport.
The report, which aired on state television and the semi-official student news agency, was not officially confirmed.
The Argentine government, in turn, approved the seizure of the Iranian Mahan Air plane in order to comply with US sanctions, confirming the arrest of five Iranians from the seized plane.
Meanwhile, some Iranian media outlets have reported that the plane, which was confiscated in Argentina on Sunday, has nothing to do with Mahan Air.
The media quoted Mahan, the public relations manager, as saying that the plane belonged to Venezuela and had nothing to do with the company.
According to Spanish media reports, quoting the Argentine Minister of Security, a Boeing 747 belonging to Mahan Airlines leased to Venezuela was seized by the United States and the passports of five Iranian crew members were confiscated.
Iran and Venezuela have close relations.
Iranian television reported on Saturday that the two countries had signed a 20-year co-operation program.
Source: Lebanon Debate
