Airbus may sell Iranian planes to Tehran after U.S. withdrawal, decision coming soon
Aniruddha Paul Politics May 11, 2018, 3:30 pm
The Iranian government has said today, May 11 that European planemaker Airbus will announce its decision on whether it will sell planes to Tehran, within the next few days. This comes right after the United State saying that it will revoke export license required by plane makers to sell commercial aircraft to Iran. Now, Airbus being European uses the components and technology from the U.S.
This far, Iran has imported at least 11 planes, three of which are from Airbus (remaining eight from ATR, the Franco-Italian turboprop maker). Asghar Fakhrieh-Kashan, senior advisor to Roads and Urban Development Minister of Iran said that the government didn't make any down payment for future deliveries.
As for the American withdrawal, President Trump pulled the nation out of an international nuclear deal. This move was made on last Tuesday, May 8 and is potent enough to raise conflicts in the Middle East. It can even upset European allies of the U.S., and global oil supplies may not be as smooth as expected by all.
The nuclear deal, initiated in 2015 Iran restrained its nuclear program in return to the lifting most of the international non-nuclear sanctions that were imposed on the country. The imposing had kept the nation's economy paralyzed for years. Most of these sanctions were lifted in 2016.
During the talks with Airbus and Boeing we did not consider any possibility of such exit from the deal and it was not mentioned in the contracts. – Fakrieh-Kashan
He is a former deputy minister involved in related contract negotiations.
National flag carrier IranAir has ordered 200 passenger aircraft in total, which includes 100 from Airbus, 80 from Boeing and 20 from ATR. The corresponding deals are depending on the American license as the plans heavily consist of parts from the U.S. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that other Iranian airlines as well have made orders.
Kim reappears in public, ending absence amid health rumors
UNSC President Estonia calls the Security Council's handling of COVID-19 "a shame"
Amid health worries, Kim Jong Un's role looms large
South Korea maintains Kim Jong-Un health rumors are untrue
Lockdowns ease worldwide, but political heat rises in the US
Brexit talks resume under coronavirus cloud