Iran Wants Direct Flights to the U.S.

No, this idea didn't originate at The Onion or in the late-night monologues of Jay Leno or David Letterman. Strange as it sounds, Iran has indeed asked the United States to allow direct flights between the two countries.

Reuters reports that:

Iran has asked the United States to allow direct flights between the two countries after a break of more than two decades, a senior civil aviation official said on Thursday. . .

"We sent a letter to the relevant American officials on Wednesday, announcing Iran's willingness to resume direct flights," Nourollah Rezai-Niaraki, head of Iran's Civil Aviation Organization, told state television.

He said the decision to make the request was taken by hardline Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad due to demand from the large Iranian community living in the United States.

"They have repeatedly complained about wasting time and losing their baggage on connecting flights," the official said.

Just what we need-- an Iraqi airliner flying direct from Tehran to JFK International loaded with suicide bombers and nuclear or "dirty" bombs.

"I hope American officials do not adopt a political stance in making a decision on this request," said Iranian civil aviation spokesman Reza Jafarzadeh.

A "political stance?" Why in the world would the United States want to adopt a political stance on this matter?

I wonder how you say "Nuts!" in Farsi?

ht:lgf