TEHRAN, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- An Iranian security council ordered a checkup of the jet standing ready to fly Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to Russia should the country reach a breaking point.
A security council ordered an overview of the jet during the weekend. It is listed as ready to fly the supreme leader and his family to Russia should political unrest in Iran threaten the clerical regime.
The order signed by Said Jalili, a representative to the supreme leader, was faxed to the Shahrzad news agency in the Netherlands.
Pro-regime supporters of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took to the streets Wednesday following days of unrest marked by bloody clashes with backers of the opposition Green Movement and government security forces.
June protests of the contested outcome of presidential elections evolved into a reform movement challenging the authority of the hard-line regime in Tehran.
In the face of a massive government crackdown, opposition supporters of reform leader Mir Hossein Mousavi have used national holidays to stage demonstrations against the government.
Clashes between opposition supporters and government forces during the weekend left at least eight dead, including a nephew of Mousavi. Iran's Press TV said Mousavi's nephew was not involved in weekend unrest but was the victim of a drive-by shooting.
