TEHRAN (ISNA)- Airbus is poised to re-enter the Iranian aircraft market as the international community prepares to lift sanctions.

Fabrice Br�gier, head of Airbus�s passenger jet unit, said the company had an understanding of future aircraft needs from Iranian airlines and officials.

We have made some contacts, yes,� he said in an interview with the Financial Times. �This is potentially a huge market for Airbus and our competitors.�

However, he stressed that commercial discussions had not yet begun as western companies were banned from such talks until a nuclear agreement between Iran and P5+1 was implemented. This was expected in the next few weeks, paving the way to a lifting of Iranian sanctions.

�We are dependent on the resolution of the international negotiations,� said Br�gier. �(After that) we would have no reason not to consider Iranian airlines as a normal customer like the rest of the world. We are very strict at applying all the international rules and regulations.�

Airbus and Boeing have been allowed under the existing sanctions regime to provide spare parts and safety manuals to Iran�s fleet, said Br�gier. �We have contacts to support this fleet and we try to understand better what would be the requirements of these customers in the future,� he added.

Abbas Akhoundi, Iran�s minister of roads and urban development, said in November that the country could not afford an estimated cost of $50bn for new aircraft, which might make leasing jets a more reasonable proposition.

Iran finalized its nuclear agreement with P5+1 last summer, in a deal that should result in the lifting of sanctions.

By ISNA