Iran to Begin Talks with Boeing to Buy Jetliners: Deputy Minister
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Deputy Transport Minister Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan said the country plans to start talks with Boeing to purchase airliners from the world’s largest aerospace company.
Speaking to the Tasnim News Agency, Fakhrieh Kashan said the Boeing Company two days ago offered to negotiate with Iran, adding that the country will hold talks with the US-based company on buying aircraft.
Commenting on the types of aircraft to be purchased from the company, he said basically, the Islamic Republic will opt for Boeing 737, which is proper for Iranian airlines.
The deputy minister further said that airliners would be purchased from Boeing on an instalment plan.
In a statement on Friday, Boeing announced the US has given the green light for the American multinational corporation to explore opportunities in Iran’s airplane market following the termination of anti-Tehran sanctions.
“We have applied for and received a license to assess the current commercial passenger airplane needs of US Government-approved Iranian airlines,” Boeing said at the time.
Boeing’s license, received on Thursday, marked a step toward catching up with European rival Airbus, which last month agreed to sell Iran 118 planes.
There has been growing international interest in trade ties with Iran since Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) on July 14, 2015 finalized a comprehensive deal on Iran’s nuclear program and implemented it on January 16.
The comprehensive nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), terminated all nuclear-related sanctions on Iran after coming into force.
