JCPOA Allows Sales of Aircraft, Associated Parts to Iran: US Spokesman
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – US State Department Spokesman John Kirby said a lasting nuclear deal, also known as JCPOA, between Tehran and six world powers allows Western aviation companies to sell “aircraft and associated parts and services” to Iran.
“…I would remind you that under the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action - a lasting nuclear deal between Iran and world powers) we issued a statement of licensing policy that allowed for case-by-case licensing of individuals and entities seeking to export, re-export, sell, lease, or transfer to Iran commercial passenger aircraft and associated parts and services exclusively for commercial passenger aviation,” Kirby said at a press briefing on Tuesday, the official website of US Department of State reported.
He made the remarks in response to a question about recent reports saying that Boeing Co. has reached an agreement with Iran for the supply of jetliners after months of negotiations.
Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhoundi said earlier that the deal with Boeing had been finalized, adding that its details will be announced shortly.
“Although I can’t speak to this specific report regarding Boeing, I can say that we have seen a number of major companies make tangible plans to take advantage of the new commercial opportunities afforded by the JCPOA. As we’ve said before, we’re not going to stand in the way of permissible business under the JCPOA with Iran, and we are going to do what we can to meet our commitments as long as Iran continues to meet their nuclear-related commitments. Beyond that, I’d have to refer you to the private company,” Kirby added.
Back in January, Iran signed a major deal worth $27 billion with aviation giant Airbus to purchase 118 planes from the company. The deal with Airbus was sealed during a state visit to Paris by Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani.
Iran has a fleet of 250 aircraft, of which 90 are grounded due to the economy or missing parts, Managing Director of Iran Air Farhad Parvaresh told Reuters earlier.
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.
International interest in ties with Iran has been growing since Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) on July 14, 2015 finalized the nuclear deal and started implementing it on January 16.
The agreement terminated all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran.