Boeing confirms signing jetliner sale memo with Iran Air

Boeing said in a statement that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with state carrier Iran Air “expressing the airline’s intent to purchase Boeing commercial passenger airplanes”. Boeing must additionally take into account a political backlash in the USA, given Iranian leaders’ penchant for anti-American rhetoric.

According to The Associated Press, Iranian officials have suggested that the country is interested in purchasing $25 billion worth of airplanes from Boeing, but existing enmity and sanctions between the USA and Iran could complicate any agreement.

But Kirby said any USA approved license for aviation sales to Iran would include “appropriate conditions” to ensure that nothing is resold or transferred to anyone on the Specially Designated Nationals list – individuals under sanctions for terrorism and other activities as drug trafficking. Parts and servicing remained almost impossible to get while the world sanctioned Iran over its contested nuclear program. “In the coming days the US government will be taking a hard look at the specifics of the deal to ensure it is consistent with both USA interests and those of our global allies, and I’ll be tracking those developments closely”, he said in a statement.

The Italian metals industry concern signed $6.2 billion in deals to supply machinery and install steel and aluminum plants in Iran.

Iran Air is the state carrier of Iran, a country with an aging aircraft fleet.

Image: Iran Air will purchase aircraft mainly from the new generation of Boeing 737 and 777 type aircraft. The Airbus deal alone was worth 22.8 billion euros ($25 billion).

The European Union last week eased restrictions on Iran Air flights.

The Boeing deal is not set in stone, however.

It is also unclear how Iran would pay for the planes because Tehran is still barred from doing business with USA banks.

Boeing officials also recently told NPR that the company needs to do business with Iran. Khamenei said in a speech last week.

“This is a very important and necessary task, but is it a priority?” It is not clear whether this is a priority or not.