Iran buys Angela Merkel's jet plane

As the Monsters and Critics reports, Chancellor Angela Merkel's former state jet plane, a German Air Force Airbus 310, has been acquired by an Iranian company, Mahan Air, the website of Spiegel magazine reported Monday.

All military equipment, including the radio system, was removed, along with the iron-cross air-force symbol and the words 'Bundesrepublik Deutschland' painted on the outside. However, the black, red and gold stripe - representing the German colours - was left on the white aircraft.

Germany has banned the sale of militarily useful items to Iran.

Spiegel Online said the government's surplus sales department, known as Vebag, raised 3.135 million euros (4.22 million dollars) from the sale of the 20-year-old jet by auction after new planes had been acquired for the government, the source reports.