Iran and France Sign Contract for Purchase of 118 Airbus Aircraft

Iran and France signed 20 contracts and agreements on Thursday, February 8, during President Hassan Rouhani's visit to France, with the purchase of 118 Airbus aircraft worth $25 billion being one of the most significant. According to AFP, the contract includes the purchase of 73 large and 45 medium-sized aircraft. The contract also states that "all 118 aircraft will be new, their pilots will be trained, and their airport services and air traffic management will also be covered." Based on a ban imposed since 1995, Western manufacturers had been prohibited from selling aircraft-related equipment and spare parts to Iranian companies. Some of these restrictions, which had been criticized for crippling branches of Iran's industry, were lifted following an agreement on Iran's nuclear program during a short-term contract in February 2014. Iran's air fleet currently includes 140 passenger aircraft, with an average age of 20 years, making the need for replacement with new aircraft urgent. The final signing of the contracts between Tehran and Paris took place in the presence of Hassan Rouhani and Francois Hollande, the presidents of Iran and France. On the other hand, the Iranian president announced readiness to open a new chapter in relations between the two countries, calling for the past grievances to be forgotten. Meanwhile, Manuel Valls, the French Prime Minister, noted on Thursday that Iran and his country would sign contracts in the fields of health, agriculture, and the environment, adding that Iran can count on France. Alongside numerous commercial agreements between the two countries, the signing of a contract between the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic and the export-credit company Coface is considered one of the achievements of the Iranian delegation's visit to France. According to Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh, Iran's Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade, the signing of this contract is an important step in the right direction. However, he added that French banks should cooperate more and take on a more supportive role in Iran's post-sanctions conditions. Among the contracts signed on Thursday between the industries of the two countries is a contract between Iran Khodro and Peugeot, which will prioritize the modernization of Iran Khodro with a €400 million investment from Peugeot. Accordingly, 200,000 Peugeot 208, 2008, and 301 vehicles are set to be produced annually in Iran for five years. The French oil company Total also announced on Thursday that it would soon sign a contract to purchase oil from Iran. According to AFP, Patrick Pouyanne, Total's CEO, stated after meeting with Hassan Rouhani that after signing this contract, the company could purchase between 150,000 to 200,000 barrels of oil daily from the Iranian government. On Thursday, Rouhani also participated in a think tank meeting held to discuss the refugee issue, criticizing European countries for their handling of the matter, referring to Iran's experience in accommodating and housing three million Afghan refugees over the years. He said, "European countries with economic capabilities and extensive resources say what to do about accepting 100,000 or 200,000 refugees." The commercial agreements between Iran and France were underscored by protests in Paris, highlighting the seriousness of human rights issues and their mention in political negotiations. According to Reuters, a women's rights advocacy group called "Femen" protested Rouhani's visit to France on Thursday by staging a mock execution near the Eiffel Tower. During this protest, a semi-naked woman with the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran painted on her chest was theatrically hanged. Rouhani's visit to Paris has also sparked protests from several political groups opposed to the Islamic Republic. Previously, Human Rights Watch, based in New York, issued a statement calling on Rouhani and Hollande to discuss human rights issues as well, pointing to issues such as the death penalty and violations of women's and minority rights in Iran.