by WorldTribune Staff, September 22, 2016

The United States has given Airbus the go-ahead to sell its aircraft to Iran and Boeing said it expects to get the green light to sell its planes to the Islamic Republic “shortly”.

Europe’s Airbus on Sept. 21 said it had received approval from the U.S. Treasury Department to begin exporting jetliners to Teheran.

According to a report by the Jerusalem Post, diplomats “say new jets will allow pragmatist President Hassan Rouhani to argue the sanctions deal is working, but the deals are opposed by U.S. Republicans who say the jets could be misused and by conservatives in Iran who oppose the country’s opening and say the purchases will not benefit most Iranians.”

Airbus said it had been granted an initial license to deliver 17 A320 or A330 jets to Iran and a second license is expected within the next few weeks.

Licenses are required for the sale of most modern aircraft because of their widespread use of U.S. parts.

Aviation sources said the Treasury Department is expected within “days” to begin unblocking Boeing’s deal to sell or lease over 100 jets to Iran.

Airbus and Boeing signed the deals earlier this year to modernize IranAir’s aging fleet, which is being held together by smuggled or improvised parts after years of sanctions.

Iran has also ordered up to 40 Franco-Italian ATR turboprop planes that are awaiting Washington’s green light.

Iran has said it could start receiving a limited number of aircraft this year.

  Administration set to green light sales of jetliners to Iran by Boeing, Airbus, Hassan Rouhani, IranAir, U.S. Treasury Department, WorldTribune.com