thanks LW50, for the input. But it looks like on the other thread on this topic, tons of info has come out that yeah, the Bell 212 was a later-build, 1994 or so. It was sold on the secondary or open market, so it was fairly owned by Iran. It was in production from 1970 to 1998, just like how 90s-built Bell 412 are still in service with Canada, a 25-year old air frame isn't a big deal, still considered a mid-life aircraft.
Still curious as to why Iran doesn't have hordes of Mi-17s for civil and government work, and why in the 1990s they were still acquiring Western helicopters...