Iranian officials have said the countrywouldneed between 400-500 new aircraft worth at least $20 billion to renovate its aging fleet and that initial negotiations have begun with the likes of Boeing and Airbus.
But Boeing Vice Chairman Ray Conner said, Were still waiting on getting the go-ahead from our government to still even have those kinds of discussions.
The US Treasury Department has granted a temporary permit to sell aircraft parts to Irans commercial airlines under an interim nuclear deal dating back to November 2013.
For full-fledged business, however, a landmark nuclear accord reached in July has to be implemented which would entail the removal of all sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
For the moment, the US government is stickingto its old hardline policy which has led to a number of aviation mishaps and the deaths of hundreds of Iranians.
In May, US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on two aviation companies for selling second-hand Airbus aircraft to Irans second carrier, Mahan Air.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="555"]
An Iran Air Boeing 747 is shown taxiing at Frankfurt Airport on August 21, 1999.[/caption]Meanwhile, the flag carrierIran Airis cooling its heels to replace its fleet of Boeing planes bought before the Islamic Revolution in 1979 when the Iranian shah was a close ally of the United States.
We have a long history with Iran. We had a big presence there for a number of years, Conner, also president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airlines, told reporters on a visit to the aircrafts manufacturers offices in Renton, Washington.
Another official said he believed the Iranian carriers would go for Boeing aircraft when the purchase window opened because of the manufacturers long-standing relationship with Iran as a customer.
We believe there will be a good opportunity for us there and we believe there will be a good opportunity our competitors, and I think they will be looking at buying from both of us, said Marty Bentrott.
Boeings vice president for sales in Middle East, Russia and Central Asia was apparently referring to Airbus.
Mohammad Khodakarami, the caretaker director of Irans Civil Aviation Organization (CAO), said last month the country could buy 80-90 planes per year from the two aviation manufacturers whenall hurdles on the way of normal trade were removed.
By Press TV
