Iran’s national carrier and Boeing have finalised their $16.6bn deal for the sale of 80 aircraft to the Islamic Republic’s airlines, paving the way for Iran Air to sign its $25bn deal to buy 118 jets from Airbus. The signing of the Boeing contract marks the first multibillion-dollar contract with a US company since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The deal comes at a sensitive time when many politicians and business people in Tehran and western capitals expect Mr Trump to roll back some parts of the agreement that lifted certain sanctions. During his controversial campaign, Mr Trump pledged to “dismantle” or at least restructure the nuclear deal reached between Iran and six world powers last year.
“Today is a historic day . . . that after 41 years, Iran Air and Boeing ink this deal,” said Abbas Akhoundi, Iran’s minister of transportation at the ceremony. “It has a clear message for the world . . . by which businessmen are telling the world that they support peace, calm and development of humanitarian affairs.” Airbus and Tehran have also reached a provisional agreement on the sale of 118 aircraft, worth an estimated $25bn at list prices. “The contract with Airbus will be finalised, too, very soon,” said an Iranian official. Airbus refused to comment. “We do not comment on our confidential talks with customers,” it said.