Iran Air CEO: Boeing Contract Untouched by US Congress Decision

“Iran Air has signed contracts to purchase 80 Boeing, 20 ATR and 100 Airbus planes,” Sharafbafi told FNA on Sunday.

“The US Congress’s tightened supervision over these contracts might delay issuance of license by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the US Treasury Department a little, but it would not call off the permissions to buy Boeing aircraft,” she added.

Sharafbafi also said that 3 Airbus 321 and 330 as well as 6 ATR passengers planes have so far been delivered to Iran.

Asked about finding foreign finance for the purchase of Iran Air planes, she said, “We are in talks over this issue, although Airbus has taken up to finance the planes.”

In relevant remarks in August, Sharafbafi said that Iran Air is in the process of selecting financiers for the purchase of 200 new passenger aircraft from among many domestic and foreign companies which have submitted their proposals to Iran Air.

“Many proposals have been submitted to Iran Air and a preliminary decision will be made by next month,” Sharafbafi said.

She reiterated that ATR, a joint venture between Airbus and Italian company Leonardo which signed a firm contract with Iran Air for 20 turboprop aircraft and options for a further 20 planes early this year, is willing to finance the purchases.