Iran confirms order for 50 Embraer planes
Iran on Tuesday confirmed that it has ordered 50 planes from Brazil's Embraer, the world's third biggest commercial aircraft manufacturer.
The confirmation was made by Mohammad Bagher Nobakht, the country’s government spokesman who emphasized that the deal with Embraer will be a hire purchase contract.
Nobakht emphasized that the administration of President Hassan Rouhani will not inject any special domestic rial funds for the purchase of the planes.
Earlier on Tuesday, an unnamed top Brazilian official had been quoted by the media as saying that Iran is interested in buying 50 airliners from Embraer.
The two countries had started discussions over the purchase of the planes, along with a potential package of taxis, buses and trucks, in October when Brazilian Trade Minister Armando Monteiro led a delegation to Tehran.
Iran has already announced orders for the purchase of 118 Airbus aircraft as well as some 40 planes from ATR, the European manufacturer of turboprop aircraft.
The country has a potential order list for 500 commercial planes to renovate its aging fleet. According to Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhoundi, Iran’s current civil aviation fleet consists of 248 aircraft with an average age of 20 years, of which 100 are in storage.
It has also been negotiation with Boeing to acquire aircraft under lease or sale/leaseback deals.
Iran's aviation industry had been subject to a US embargo since 1995 that prevented Western manufacturers from selling it equipment or spare parts.
Further complications for the country’s aviation industry emerged when a series of draconian sanctions were imposed against the country over the past few years as a result of disputes over its nuclear energy program.
Nevertheless, Iran saw an opening in opportunities to revamp its aviation fleet when in January the nuclear-related sanctions were lifted and the companies were authorized to sell planes and parts to the country.
Why Iraqi Kurdistan is important for Iran
Iran-Africa path toward a shared future
Expo 2024: Iran’s door to international markets
How Palestinian prisoner in jail for 20 years won coveted literary prize for his book
UK defense ministry comes under major cyber attack
VIDEO | Austrian students set up pro-Gaza encampment at Vienna university
US soldier detained in Russia for stealing
VIDEO | Dating ancient artefacts with proton beams
Italy sued for complicity in genocide
VIDEO | Turkey vows to hold Israel accountable for Gaza genocide
US pro-Palestinian protesters resist order to clear MIT encampment
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
