TEHRAN (Tasnim) � Iran�s Minister of Road and Urban Development Abbas Akhondi announced on Thursday that talks with airplane manufacturer Boeing will soon begin on purchase of aircraft from the US company.





Asked about reports that Tehran has already begun its negotiations with Boeing, Akhondi told the Tasnim News Agency that the American company�s officials have been invited to visit Iran.

Given the US administration�s the green light to Boeing, the company�s authorities have been invited to Iran to start the talks, he said.

The remarks came a few days after Iran�s Deputy Transport Minister Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan said the country plans to start talks with Boeing to purchase airliners from the world�s largest aerospace company.

Fakhrieh Kashan told Tasnim on February 24 that Boeing has offered to negotiate with Iran, adding that the country will hold talks with the US-based company on buying aircraft.

Commenting on the types of aircraft to be purchased from the company, he said the Islamic Republic will opt for Boeing 737, which is proper for Iranian airlines.

The deputy minister further added that that airliners would be purchased from Boeing on an instalment plan.

In a statement on February 19, Boeing announced the US has given the green light for the American multinational corporation to explore opportunities in Iran�s airplane market following the termination of anti-Tehran sanctions.

�We have applied for and received a license to assess the current commercial passenger airplane needs of US Government-approved Iranian airlines,� Boeing said at the time.

Boeing�s license marked a step toward catching up with European rival Airbus, which in January agreed to sell Iran 118 planes.

There has been growing international interest in trade ties with Iran since Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) on July 14, 2015 finalized a comprehensive deal on Iran�s nuclear program and implemented it on January 16.

The comprehensive nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), terminated all nuclear-related sanctions on Iran after coming into force.

By Tasnim News Agency