Boeing moves ahead on delivering first jets to Iran next year

Boeing is making “steady progress” to complete the terms of an 80-jetliner sale to Iran Air and expects to deliver the initial planes next year, the first US aircraft exports to Iran since the country’s revolution in 1979. “That remains on track,” CE Dennis Muilenburg said Monday. “It’s really important that at every step of the process, we’re working on this hand-in-hand with the US govt.” The US$16.6b deal with Iran Air and a separate US$3b agreement with Iran Aseman Airlines bring 2 of president Donald Trump’s initiatives into conflict: his campaign vows to “get tough” on Iran and his promise to bolster US exports supporting thousands of manufacturing jobs. Airbus already has delivered the initial planes in a $19b sale struck last year after a nuclear accord with Iran lifted some international restrictions on trade with the country. <br/>