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Iran Air to need 100 passenger jets

In the absence of a long-term deal easing the country’s economic isolation, Iran’s flag carrier will turn instead to Russia and China as alternative suppliers.

Iran Air will need at least 100 passenger jets once sanctions against the country are lifted and will find it easier to do business with companies that co-operated during the current window for sanctions relief, the head of the airline said.

However, in the absence of a long-term deal easing the country’s economic isolation, Iran’s flag carrier will turn instead to Russia and China as alternative suppliers, Farhad Parvaresh, chairman and managing director of Iran Air, said.

The comments, in a rare interview with foreign media on the sidelines of an airline conference this week, come as Iran and six nations prepare to resume negotiations on a final deal aimed at ending a decade-old dispute over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

Asked if it would be easier to do business in future with companies that had co-operated under the temporary Geneva deal, Parvaresh told Reuters: “Yes, that is for sure”.

He added: “To my understanding, if sanctions are lifted in aviation, we would need at least 100 aircraft right away, both widebody and narrowbody.”

US companies Boeing and General Electric have said they are seeking to export parts to Iran under the agreement for sanctions relief which expires on July 20.