Sources Say Sale Is Imminent

The Islamic Republic of Iran may be close to a deal to acquire as many as 100 airliners from Boeing, according to local media reports.

The semi-official news agency Mehr on Tuesday quoted Abbas Akhoundi, Iran’s minister of roads and urban development as saying that details of the deal will be announced "in the coming days", according to a story appearing on GeekWire.

A report from Reuters quoted an unnamed source who said that the deal would deliver 100 airliners to Iran Air, both directly from Boeing and through leasing companies.

In January, Iran announced a deal with Airbus to purchase 118 airliners valued at as much as $27 billion. But the deal is on hold pending export licenses from the United States because of the U.S. technology incorporated on Airbus airplanes.

No U.S. airliners have been sold to Iran since the revolution and hostage crisis in 1979, and trade sanctions against Iran have forced the country to continue to fly ageing airliners. Some analysts say that the country needs to acquire hundreds of new airplanes to modernize its fleet.

Boeing would only say that it has been in talks with Iran Air about a potential sale, with the approval of the U.S. Government, but would not offer any specifics of the discussions.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.boeing.com