Two U.S. congressmen, Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) and Peter Roskam (R-IL), sent a letter last week to Boeing expressing concern that the plane deal could aid Iran’s military actions.
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Iran has ordered about 200 planes in total from three Western manufacturers since mid-January when economic sanctions were lifted following a deal on Tehran´s nuclear programme.
USA aerospace giant Boeing and Iran’s state-owned carrier Iran Air confirmed Tuesday, June 21, a tentative deal for the sale of passenger aircraft that could be worth as much as $25 billion.
The purchase includes a mix of 737 and 777 models, Iran Air said in a statement on its website. Boeing was the largest supplier of civilian aircraft to Iran before the 1979 takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.
“Boeing will continue to follow the lead of the US Government with regards to working with Iran’s airlines”.
Just last week, Iran announced preliminary plans to buy 118 planes from France-based Airbus in a deal worth roughly $27 billion.
Rear Admiral John Kirby, Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State as of 2015.
Approval from US officials is required since more than 10% of Airbus materials are of American origin.
However, a USA Today editorial provided a counter argument: “Whatever one might think of the Iran nuclear deal, it won’t be reversed by attacking one of its undeniable benefits …”
It is also not certain that Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will approve the purchase.
The Islamic Republic has announced its need for about 400 passenger planes in the next decade to modernize its ageing fleet.
But it is said that completing a transaction with Iran could take Boeing months.
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The other reason that could hold back Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) from closing the aircraft supply deal with Iran is financing. But with the looming presidential elections and simmering politics in Washington D.C., signing off an Iranian multibillion dollar deal could delay even further. The JCPOA “provides an opening for civil aviation companies, including American companies, to pursue legitimate commerce with Iran, and we note reports of progress in the aviation sector, which is good for both the economy and for public safety”, Kirby added.
