"Perhaps a shiny toy to keep the Revolutionary Guards "
I wouldn't regard them as more as training vehicles, for getting crews used to this
kind of aircraft. WIGs, somewhat larger than those, to my opinion could be useful
in asymmetric warfare. Cheap and easy to built in large numbers, armed perhaps with
such a single weapon and manned by crews, who don't care about getting home, they
could fly out further, than the range of power boats, lie on the sea surface (relatively
stealthy then) and pop up and attack unexpected. At least, this could be a theoretical
tactic behind their construction. If they could really take off from any other than the
calmest sea, I don't know, but that's a matter of testing and perhaps training.