Airbus says granted US license to sell planes to Iran

Airbus says it has obtained an initial license from the United States to supply passenger jets to Iran as part of a 25-billion-dollar deal between the aircraft manufacturer and the Islamic Republic signed in January.

Airbus spokesman, Justin Dubon, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the company received the license from the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control for the early delivery of 17 A320 or A330 jets to Iran.

He also noted that Airbus hoped to receive a second license allowing it to export the remaining aircraft to Iran within the next few weeks.

Back in January, Tehran signed a major contract with Airbus to buy 118 planes. The accord was inked during Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's visit to Paris.

However, Iran’s Deputy Minister of Road and Urban Development Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan said earlier this week the country had cut the number of planes to be purchased to 112.

SS