Ukraine International Airlines (PS, Kyiv Boryspil) and its ownership have come under intense scrutiny from Iranian MPs after claims they had proof that the airline was in fact owned by Israeli interests.

The IRNA news agency says the imbroglio broke out when the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization (IrCAO) granted Ukraine Int'l Airlines (UIA) Kyiv Boryspil to Tehran Mehrabad traffic rights early last year. Several "hardliner" MPs reportedly objected to the move on the grounds that as the airline's co-owner, Aron Mayberg, is an Israeli citizen, so its plying of flights into Iran was tantamount to allowing an Israeli carrier access to its airspace.

The IrCAO has defended its decision claiming an investigation of the airline's shareholding had shown no evidence of Israeli ownership.

Since the 1979 Iranian revolution, Israel and Iran have been bitter enemies with Israel accusing Iran of support for Hizbollah and Hamas. Iran has in turn accused Israel of plotting to topple its Shi'ite-led theocratic regime.