Iran urged the
United States on Sunday to remove remaining obstacles to it buying passenger
planes following the lifting of international sanctions and spread out the
welcome mat to foreign investors as it seeks to boost its aviation sector.
Iran
provisionally agreed earlier this year to buy over 200 jets worth $50 billion
at list prices from Airbus and Boeing under an agreement between Tehran and
world powers to ease sanctions in exchange for curbs on Iran's nuclear
activities.
Both deals
hinge on the longer-than-expected process of winning U.S. Treasury approval,
which is needed due to the high proportion of U.S. parts in virtually all
modern jetliners, including those made by Europe's Airbus.
There have
also been delays in getting European banks to finance the deals because of
restrictions over the use of U.S. dollars and concerns over legal risks if
sanctions are re-imposed.
Roads and
Urban Development Minister Abbas Akhoundi told an aviation conference that Iran
was complying with its obligations and meanwhile continued to negotiate with
other planemakers.
"We are
negotiating with all those big names ... There are a lot of obstacles but I am
sure that because we have respected all the international rules and
regulations, all those problems are going to be resolved," he told the
CAPA Aviation Finance Summit, the second large gathering of aviation leaders in
Tehran since sanctions were lifted in January.
Critics in the
U.S. Congress argue that Iran could use passenger jets for military purposes
such as transporting fighters to battle U.S. troops or allies in Syria or
transfer the aircraft to airlines still under U.S. sanctions.
U.S. critics
of the nuclear deal also say it could allow Iran to skirt remaining sanctions
by transferring jets acquired by national carrier IranAir to airlines that
remain on a U.S. blacklist, such as the country's largest carrier, Mahan Air.
In an
interview with Reuters, Akhoundi dismissed the concerns.
"We have
a contract. We will stick to it," he said.
He also told a
news conference that the Tehran event, attended by dozens of foreign firms,
proved that aviation was international in scope and "the U.S. government
cannot stand against it," according to a translation of his remarks.
The House of
Representatives in July passed two amendments that would stop the aircraft
sales, although to become law they need to be approved by the Senate and signed
by President Barack Obama.
Iran estimates
it will need at least 400 aircraft to renew and expand its fleet, including
some 250 in the next 10 years.
Besides the
aircraft sales, Iran is dangling the prospect of significant business for
Western companies including nationwide airport expansion as it emerges from
decades of sanctions.
"There
are more than 60 airports in Iran but 80 percent of flights are in just 10 and
these are working beyond capacity; that is why we need to develop,"
Akhoundi said.
"They are
all ready to attract investors, who are welcome to invest in any part," he
told the conference held at Tehran's Imam Khomeini airport, which plans a $2.8
billion expansion.
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