Iran says US will soon grant licenses for Boeing, Airbus deals

Iran expects the US Treasury to grant licenses by the end of this month that should help pave the way for the completion of the purchase of more than 200 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus, Iran’s deputy transport minister Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan said Sunday. Iran is trying to upgrade its aging airline fleet and in June signed an agreement with Boeing to buy 80 planes and lease 29 more. But the deal has come under pressure from lawmakers in the US who have discussed various measures to restrict the sale, including prohibiting the Treasury Department from licensing it. Kashan said Iran has an agreement with a leasing company for US$10b in financing for the Airbus deal. He didn’t disclose the name of the leasing company or say where it was based. The value of Iran’s deal with Boeing has yet to be finalised. <br/>