Airbus, Boeing reps to visit Tehran

Airbus and Boeing are going to send their representatives to Iran to discuss how to carry out their deals with the Islamic Republic, Iranian Minister of Transport Abbas Akhondi said.

The sides will accordingly discuss the legal aspects of the deals to precipitate their implementaiton, Akhondi told reporters, IRNA news agency reported September 24.

The two aircraft manufacturers were authorized by the US Treasury earlier this week to sell their products to Iran, months after Iran signed deals with the companies.

In January Iran and Airbus signed a deal over 118 airliners. But the company could not accomplish the deal as it was restricted by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States in doing business with Iran. A similar deal between Tehran and Boeing had the same story.

Iran plans to buy about 500 aircraft in 10 years to refurbish its aging fleet. Iranian airliners average 25 in age.