DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran called on the European Union on Monday to press U.S. authorities to allow delivery of Airbus passenger aircraft purchased by Tehran, Iran’s student news agency ISNA reported.To upgrade its aging fleet, Iran Air ordered 200 passenger aircraft – 100 from Airbus, 80 from Boeing and 20 from Franco-Italian turboprop maker ATR – after a 2015 nuclear deal was reached between Iran and six major powers. But the U.S. Treasury revoked licenses for Boeing Co and France’s Airbus to sell commercial planes to Iran Air after President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the agreement in May and reimposed sanctions.
“Our main concern is being able to serve our passengers better … We hope that the EU can get the OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) licenses for delivery of purchased Airbus planes,” IranAir Chief Executive Farzaneh Sharafbafi was quoted by ISNA as saying.