Iran Invites Boeing To Talks About Plane Purchases

Iran has invited Boeing to Tehran to discuss purchasing aircraft aimed at updating its commercial fleet hit by decades of sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic, state TV reported.

In February, Iran's deputy transport minister Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan said the country was ready to buy at least 100 jets from Boeing. Boeing said it was assessing the steps needed to deal with Iran.

"After the authorisation from the American administration to Boeing, we have invited the company to begin talks on developing the country's air fleet," state TV quoted Iran's road and transport minister Abbas Akhoundi as saying. It gave no details on the date of the visit.

The United States gave Boeing a license last month to hold talks with airlines in Iran, but said it would need additional approval to make sales as Iran remains subject to number of US restrictions.

Airbus agreed in January to sell Iran 118 planes worth about USD$27 billion at list prices after sanctions against Iran were lifted in return for Tehran curbing its nuclear programme under a deal reached in 2015.

Industry observers have said Boeing and other US suppliers are partly worried about how to handle opposition to the Iran nuclear deal in Congress and from US allies in the Gulf.

The number and age of Airbus and Boeing aircraft in Iran show the potential for sales. Many of the Boeing planes date from the 1970s and 1980s.