Iran seeks more aircraft as questions linger over earlier deals

Iran has expanded its search for aircraft and is looking to order dozens more jets while it continues to try to overcome hurdles to deals worth some US$50b with Airbus and Boeing, Iranian officials and Western industry sources said. Iranian airline executives attended the Farnborough Airshow in Britain over the past week and held preliminary discussions with several potential sellers including Mitsubishi, which is developing a new regional jet, they said. "Iran is planning to buy some 50 more airplanes of various types soon," an Iranian official said. At the same time, Iran is continuing to meet Airbus and Boeing to try to resolve headaches surrounding the financing of existing deals to buy some 200 jetliners, needed to renew its fleet. <br/>