Yeah, it's been pretty long for many Iranian applicants

but also for many people from the Philippines and from north African countries.
To answer your question about the PNP, there are two things to consider. First, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms allows you to move freely within Canada. On the other hand, if you come through PNP you express that you wish to settle in ON, and if you move they could accuse you of misrepresentation (i.e. saying something that wasn't true) and you could get into trouble. If you have enough proof that (1) you are returning to ON, and (2) that you will settle there permanently, you should be fine. How long will you be gone?