WASHINGTON — As United States campaigns for international
sanctions against Iran, it is planning to sell aircraft parts to the regime in the interest of improving aviation safety.
The Bush administration has notified Congress that the United States
would export parts for U.S.-origin aircraft to Iran. Officials said State and
Commerce have designated a company for the aircraft spare parts export
license.
The recommendation has been relayed to the Treasury Department, which
bans all but humanitarian transactions with Iran. Officials said the
State Department and Commerce Department have recommended such a move in an
effort to improve Iranian air safety, Middle East Newsline reported.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the license, approved on
Sept. 29, would enable the export of spare and replacement parts and
technical data for the repair and overhaul of a "limited number" of
U.S.-made turbine engines on Airbus aircraft. McCormack said these aircraft
have been operated by Iran Air, which has sustained several crashes over the
last four years.
"The [State] Department's recommendation is based on an airworthiness
warning issued by the Federal Aviation Administration that calls for the
immediate overhaul of these engines," McCormack said.
Under the recommendation, the airplane engine parts would not be shipped
to Iran. Instead, the components would be exported to unidentified third
countries, which would conduct the repairs for Iran Air.
Officials did not identify the third countries. Russia and Ukraine have
been leading suppliers to Iran Air.
"Our recommendation is consistent with the U.S. government's commitment
to promote international safety-of-flight standards and ensure the safety of
all aviation passengers, including the citizens of Iran," McCormack said.
Britain and France have already been selling aircraft and engine parts
to Iran. In 2005, the government of British Prime Minister Tony Blair said
Teheran ensured London that the spare parts would not be directed to the
Iranian military.
In August, however, Israel relayed evidence that British exports of
night goggle systems to Iran were diverted to Hizbullah. Israel presented
the British-origin night-vision systems found in Lebanon during the 34-day
war with Hizbullah in July and August 2006.
"Therefore, despite our grave concerns regarding the Iranian regime's
activities, we believe this decision is consistent with our commitment to
support the Iranian people and to use U.S. sanctions to target the regime,
not the Iranian people," the State Department said.
