Criticism from Some Republican Representatives on Iran and Boeing 'Agreements'

Some members of the U.S. Congress have criticized the 'preliminary agreements' between Iran and Boeing for the purchase of passenger aircraft, stating that Congress will not have a 'favorable approach' to this agreement. USA Today and The Washington Times quoted Peter Roskam, a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, saying, 'Boeing and the Islamic Republic should know that Congress will not have a favorable approach to an agreement that may endanger the security of the American people.' Roskam had previously expressed opposition to the agreement between Iran and major aircraft manufacturers for purchasing passenger planes. In an article he wrote on March 31 in The Wall Street Journal, he stated, 'The Revolutionary Guard has used those same planes (Boeing and Airbus) to transport fighters and weapons to Syria.' He also mentioned Mahan Air, which is sanctioned in the U.S. for 'providing services to the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guard,' and stated that it intends to open new flight routes to Paris and London. The Washington Post also reported on June 15 that some members of the U.S. Congress have already begun to condemn the agreement between Iran and Boeing, and that the company may face 'risks' within the U.S. if it finalizes the agreement with Tehran. The Washington Post quoted Jeb Hensarling, the Republican chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, stating that institutions looking to sell their products 'should ask whether trading with a government that is a leader in supporting terrorism serves their long-term interests.' The United States considers the Iranian government the foremost state sponsor of terrorism. Tehran has denied this accusation and instead labeled some of America's regional allies as the main supporters of terrorism. The chairman of the House Financial Services Committee stated, 'It is not job creation that is of primary importance; it is the potential lives of the American people that are of primary concern.' His remark apparently refers to the potential size of the deal between Boeing and Iran. Initial estimates suggest an agreement for the purchase of 100 Boeing aircraft for Iran's aging fleet, which has been severely impacted by international sanctions. This has led some analysts, including Elizabeth Rosenberg in an interview with The Washington Post, to say that such a number of planes for sale would be considered an excellent deal for a global company. The conservative newspaper The Washington Times also quoted two former U.S. Treasury officials as saying that allegations related to money laundering and support for terrorism against Tehran could cast a shadow over this agreement. The Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development announced that his ministry has reached an agreement with Boeing, the details of which will be announced in the coming days. The government spokesman also stated that 'conditions' for purchasing aircraft from this company have been 'prepared.' Boeing has not yet officially responded to this matter. According to Reuters, the U.S. State Department has refrained from commenting on a specific deal between private companies and Iran. John Kirby, the spokesman for this department, said on Tuesday that based on the agreement with Iran, 'considering the case,' any trade, issuance of licenses for the sale or transfer of 'purely commercial' aircraft to Iran is permitted. International sanctions were mainly imposed due to Iran's nuclear program, which were lifted following the nuclear agreement. However, U.S. sanctions regarding issues such as human rights or support for terrorism remain in place. The first round of major Washington sanctions against Iran was imposed after the revolution and following the attack on the U.S. embassy in Tehran. New sanctions were imposed during the Iran-Iraq war, and additional sanctions were added in the mid-1990s during Bill Clinton's presidency, which specifically impacted the aviation industry, its repairs, and parts. This trend continued during the George W. Bush and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad administrations.