Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 1
By Fatih Karimov – Trend:
Iran is negotiating with four European countries to finance airplane purchase from aviation companies, Ali Abedzadeh, head of Iran Civil Aviation Organization, said.
He said that Iran has held talks with Germany, Italy, Ireland and France on the issue, Mehr news agency reported Dec. 1.
He further said that leasing talks with foreign firms have been intensified.
Iran earlier confirmed that it has reached a deal with a foreign leasing company to finance purchase of 77 Airbus jets.
The deal removes a significant hurdle to securing the first tranche of jets, following uncertainty over financing and political opposition in the United States and Iran, though the sources caution months of talks have thrown up new potential hurdles.
Earlier in September, the US removed a final hurdle for Western aircraft manufacturers to sell planes to the Islamic Republic.
Iran plans to buy about 500 aircraft in 10 years to refurbish its ageing fleet. Iranian airliners average 25 in age.