Iran Air - the national flag carrier airline of the Islamic Republic says it is discussing what is seen as a historic aircraft purchase deal with global aviation giant Boeing.
Iran Air CEO Farhad Parvaresh has told Reuters that serious talks with Boeing to the same effect are underway, expressing hope that these would lead to an agreement sometime soon.
"Meetings and negotiations are going on. We hope that in the future we can reach an understanding with each other," Parvaresh told Reuters in an interview.
"The number and type of aircraft have to be discussed in the future, but the first step is to have a mutual understanding."
Reuters added that the volume of the purchase deal with Boeing could be as big as the one that Iran Air sealed with Airbus earlier this year.
"No, not bigger than Airbus; maybe close, but this also depends on the situation, Parvaresh emphasized. Anyhow Iran is in need of at least 300 aircraft for the next decade."
He said any such deal also depended "of course on our government as well, because we are a state-owned company".
Iran signed a major deal worth $27 billion with Airbus in January to purchase 118 planes from the company. The deal with Airbus was sealed during a state visit to Paris by Irans President Hassan Rouhani.
Apart from Airbus and Boeing, Iran is also negotiating with several other global aviation giants over the purchases of planes including Bombardier and Embraer.
Iran has a fleet of 250 aircraft, of which 90 are grounded due to the economy or missing parts, Parvaresh further told Reuters.
Of that total, 80 percent will need to be renewed in the next decade, he said, adding that growth could add even more jets to Iran's shopping list.
"In the next 10 years, we need at least 250-300 aircraft or even more if everything is going well."
By Press TV
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