Tehran, Iran, September 23
By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:
After receiving a US permission to carry out its deals to buy new airplanes from major producers, Iran is hopeful it can also buy second-hand aircraft to refurbish its aging fleet.
Minister of Transport Abbas Akhondi raised the possibility of buying second-hand aircraft by saying Iran would go for planes made after the year 2000, IRIB TV reported.
The Iranian minister made the remark one day after the US Treasury permitted Airbus to sell airplanes to Iran under a deal from January according to which Iran is buying 118 airliners from the company.
The Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC), a body under the US Treasury, had so far refrained from authorizing the sale of the airplanes to Iran despite the fact that nuclear-related sanctions on Iran were removed in January after Iran and world powers reached a deal on the country’s nuclear program.
Iran has made another deal with Boeign for 108 aircraft which was also pending permission from the US and now is more likely to be carried out.
Tehran has also signed a deal with ATR for 20 aircraft. The country is also in talks with the Japanese Mitsubishi for aircraft.
The Iranian minister said according to arrangements, Iran will start receiving the Airbus airplanes in 2016 and the delivery will be completed in eight years.