Israeli receives VIP treatment in Iran

LONDON, May 7 (IranMania) - An Israeli man reported VIP treatment after his Turkish Airlines flight was forced to land in Iran, UPI reported.

Benny Medvediev, 32, of Rehovot, was aboard a Turkish Airlines flight en route from Istanbul to Mumbai, India, Friday when it developed mechanical problems and was forced to land in Tehran.

Medvediev told the pilot he was an Israeli and feared he might be at risk because of tensions between Iran and Israel. The pilot refused his request to be secured in the cockpit while the plane made its several hour stop-over in Tehran, YNet News reported Sunday.

"At first ... I was scared to death," Medvediev said. "But they were very nice to me and even invited me to visit Tehran again. I told them, 'Let's make peace, I invite you to come to Jerusalem'."

Medvediev said the Iranian security personnel even gave him a wooden box as a souvenir from his visit.