There have been news reports that many of the passengers were leaving Iran for fear of a war. The airplane had been delayed, but finally permitted to depart. Why was it delayed? Why was it important that it depart? What kind of decision-making was in play prior to departure and could there be any relationship to the decision to lock up and launch SAMs? Could there have been multiple Iranian government and military agencies involved with different agendas? Just questions, no assertions. Let’s remember though that solid evidence has not been provided.
Firstly, dual Canadian Iranian citizens, due the sanctions and airspace constraints have, despite the theatre found a way back and forth: That is through Ukraine.
The airport is secure and visiting Iran one quickly realises that western airport "security theatre" is for show.
Delays, with respect to clearances are commonplace, the airport operates 24 hours a day.
Perhaps, as sad as it is a mistake was made.
It is not good optics for Iran to clean up the site, however the USA also obfuscated with the USS Vincennes. Allied pilots shadowing USS Vincennes as it headed back home after the shoot down of Iran Air 655, were incorrectly identified numerous times despite the appropriate IFF responses. Mistakes can and will be made.
The sad thing is there is human cost for all the bellicose rhetoric, when despite the scenes what now emerges were the Swiss embassy in Tehran playing shuttle diplomats conveying messages back and forward.