Criticism from the Chairman of the U.S. House Financial Committee on the Boeing and Aseman Agreement for Selling Aircraft to Iran

Jeb Hensarling, the Republican Chairman of the U.S. House Financial Committee, criticized the agreement between Aseman Airlines and Boeing for the sale of 30 passenger aircraft to Iran on Tuesday. According to Iranian media reports, Aseman Airlines has reached an agreement with Boeing to purchase 60 Boeing 737 MAX passenger aircraft in two phases. In the first phase, 30 passenger aircraft will be sold to Iran, and if both parties agree, another 30 aircraft will be sold to this Iranian company. Meanwhile, Jeb Hensarling stated in a statement on Tuesday that the news of the Boeing agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran coincided with media reports of a chemical attack on civilians in Syria, an attack that killed dozens, including 11 children. He emphasized that Iran's provision of air services to Bashar al-Assad's regime is well documented. The Chairman of the House Financial Committee added that the negotiations for the sale of aircraft to Iran by the Obama administration are disgraceful, but we must ensure that the Ayatollahs do not use these aircraft to commit crimes in the region. Jeb Hensarling stressed that American and international financial institutions must recognize that they can no longer pretend to be unaware of the risks of financing these deals. Former President Barack Obama issued a permit for the sale of passenger aircraft to Iran following the nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers in January 2016. Subsequently, the U.S. Treasury Department also issued a 'general license' on March 25, 2017, allowing American companies to sell aircraft to Iran after more than three decades. In this context, Amir Reza Mostafavi, a spokesman for Aseman Airlines, told Mehr News Agency that 'the memorandum of understanding for the purchase of 60 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft from Boeing was signed today by Boeing executives with Aseman Airlines executives in Tehran.' He added, 'The transfer of these aircraft will begin in 2019, with between 5 to 10 of them being delivered to Aseman Airlines in that year.' This Boeing aircraft sale contract must be approved by OFAC, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury. Amir Reza Mostafavi explained the process of transferring the purchased aircraft from Boeing to Aseman, stating, 'According to what is stated in this memorandum, Boeing has conditioned the transfer of all 60 aircraft on the successful operation of the first 30 aircraft, meaning that in the first phase, 30 aircraft will be transferred to Aseman, and after the approval of airport infrastructure and the assessment of Aseman's need for the second 30 aircraft by Boeing experts, the second 30 will also be delivered to Aseman Airlines.' The relationship between Iran Air and Boeing dates back about 50 years, with Iran purchasing its first Boeing 707s in the 1960s. After the revolution, the relationship between Boeing and Iran Air was severed. In this context, how is the Boeing contract with Aseman? The third new Airbus of Iran has landed in Mehrabad. The first Airbus has been delivered to Iran Air. Airbus is selling 100 aircraft to Iran Air in a $20 billion deal. The Boeing contract presents challenges and prospects.