RFL/RE – The United States has issued a second license to France’s Airbus to sell more than 100 commercial planes to Iran.
Airbus in September received a license to sell 17 planes to Tehran.
Officials said that the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control on November 21 gave the French manufacturer permission to sell 106 more planes to Iran Air.
An Airbus spokesman confirmed to the Reuters news agency that the company had received a license, but declined to confirm the exact number of planes approved.
Airbus needs U.S. approval because at least 10 percent of the plane’s components are American-made.
Iran is hoping to replace its aging fleet following last year’s nuclear accord that significantly limits Tehran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.
Opponents of the nuclear deal have expressed concern that the passenger aircraft could be used for military purposes, a charge denied by Iranian officials.
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to bar the sale of commercial aircraft to Iran.
Based on reporting by Reuters and AP