Berlin, April 13, IRNA - Airbus is to deliver its first batch of planes to Iran over the next months, Airbus Chief Executive Officer Fabrice Bregier said in Berlin on Wednesday after his meeting with Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Ahmad Akhoundi.


We hope to see soon the Iran Air logo on the new Airbus planes, Bregier told Iranian media representatives at the Iranian embassy in Berlin.

We expect the delivery of the first batch of planes to Iran over the next months once the US grants export licences (because more than 10 percent of the parts for the planes are made in the United States), he added.

Bergier said talks on the aviation deal have made good progress, saying he hoped to finalize the agreement soon.

There is a good atmosphere in the negotiations and we hope to solve the remaining problems in a positive manner, the Airbus chief added.
Iran has reportedly signed a deal to buy 118 Airbus planes worth 22 billion euros.

The agreement was signed during a visit by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to France.

Iran is also interested in buying planes from, Airbus arch rival, Boeing.

Transport Minister Abbas Akhoundi has estimated that his country will need 400 medium- and long-range planes, and 100 short-haul jets, in the next few years.

An embargo imposed in 1995 has prevented Western manufacturers from selling equipment and spare parts to Iranian companies.

By IRNA