‘Iran urges EU to press Washington on Airbus aircraft deliveries’

Iran called on the European Union yesterday to press US authorities to allow delivery of Airbus passenger aircraft purchased by Tehran, Iran’s student news agency ISNA reported.To upgrade its ageing fleet, Iran Air ordered 200 passenger aircraft — 100 from Airbus, 80 from Boeing and 20 from Franco-Italian turboprop maker ATR — after a 2015 nuclear deal was reached between Iran and six major powers.But the US Treasury revoked licences for Boeing Co and France’s Airbus to sell commercial planes to Iran Air after President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the agreement in May and reimposed sanctions.“Our main concern is being able to serve our passengers better...We hope that the EU can get the OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) licences for delivery of purchased Airbus planes,” IranAir chief executive Farzaneh Sharafbafi was quoted by ISNA as saying. Although Airbus is based in France, it must have the approval of the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control to sell planes to Iran because at least 10% of the components of the aircraft are US-made.“As OFAC licences were issued for ATR planes...the licences for Airbus planes can be pursued by (the EU),” she said. “IranAir can never be stopped.”Under a special agreement after US licences were revoked but before new sanctions came in force on November 5, ATR delivered 13 of the 20 turboprop aircraft sought by IranAir while the remainder remain on order.Other signatories of the nuclear deal and the EU have remained committed to the pact and have been trying to salvage it.Airbus, which delivered three aircraft before the licences were withdrawn, continues to show the order as active on its books.Boeing never officially added Iran’s order to its list of sold jets and has said it will not pursue the deal.