Story ID: GPiranboeing06152016
Boeing-Iran Order Announcement Seen as Imminent
By: Gregory Polek
Caption: U.S. manufacturer acknowledges existence of talks
Word Count: 290
Boeing has confirmed its engagement with Iran on a potential commercial aircraft order announced Tuesday by Abbas Akhoundi, the Iranian minister of roads and urban development. According to Iranian news agency reports, officials will announce details of the deal within the next few days. The reports indicate the deal will cover at least 100 jets for IranAir.

If confirmed, the contract would represent the first aircraft order between Boeing and Iranian airlines since the U.S. government (USG) placed sanctions on the Iranian regime following the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. It would also mark the largest commercial deal between U.S. and Iranian companies since the Obama Administration lifted the sanctions some six months ago as part of a nuclear containment deal.

“We have been engaged in discussions with Iranian airlines approved by the USG about potential purchases of Boeing commercial passenger airplanes and services,” said Boeing in the statement issued Wednesday. “We do not discuss details of ongoing conversations we are having with customers, and our standard practice is to let customers announce any agreements that are reached. Any agreements reached will be contingent on U.S. government approval.”

Separate deals involve 118 Airbus jets worth some $27 billion and 20 ATR 72-600s worth another $1 billion. Those contracts also remain contingent on U.S. government approval due to the U.S. content in the airplanes.

Economic sanctions imposed on Iran by the West for many years have hindered the development of its air transport industry, leaving the likes of IranAir with decrepit fleets of maintenance-intensive aircraft. A lack of availability of spare parts kept many airplanes grounded or flying in questionable condition, making Iran's airlines some of the world’s most accident-prone.