Superjet 100; "Part of Iran's Purchase from the Russian Air Show"

A few days after the Minister of Roads denied negotiations with Russia for the purchase of the Superjet 100, the head of the National Space Center stated that part of the $21 billion contract signed at the Moscow Air Show was for the purchase of the Superjet 100. Manouchehr Manteqi, recently appointed by Sorena Sattari, the scientific deputy to the President, said on Wednesday, October 1, at a press conference that during the participation in the Russian aerospace exhibition, a $21 billion contract was signed, of which "part of these contracts was for the purchase of Superjet aircraft." He reported that "Iranian airlines have submitted their request for the purchase of 100-seat Superjets." This statement comes as the Minister of Roads and Urban Development, as the senior authority for air transport in the country, recently announced that no negotiations had taken place with the Russian Sukhoi [manufacturer of the Superjet 100] to equip the air fleet, and that most negotiations were with Airbus and Boeing. Abbas Akhoundi had clearly stated regarding the possibility of the Russian Sukhoi aircraft entering Iran's air fleet that "such an aircraft has not yet received a flight permit from the Civil Aviation Organization, and I do not confirm negotiations for the purchase of Sukhoi." All paths lead to the scientific deputy of the President. Although the Russian Ministry of Transport announced in July this year that the country was negotiating with Iran for the export of passenger Superjet aircraft of the Sukhoi type, the whispers of purchasing Russian Superjet aircraft resonated more since the scientific deputy of Hassan Rouhani's trip to Moscow. Sorena Sattari, during his visit to Moscow in early September, announced that cooperation with Moscow is a priority for Tehran and that Iran has expressed interest in purchasing Russian passenger aircraft. At that time, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported that a contract for the purchase of Sukhoi Superjet-100 aircraft would be signed between Russia and Iran on the sidelines of the MAKS-2015 exhibition. However, there were also speculations that the contract for the purchase of this aircraft would likely be signed at the intergovernmental commission between Iran and Russia scheduled for September. RIA Novosti quoted the scientific deputy of Hassan Rouhani as saying that "the Sukhoi Superjet-100 is one of the most modern aircraft in the world, and Iranian airlines pay special attention to it." Now, Manouchehr Manteqi, who heads the Iranian Space Organization, one of the sub-units of the scientific deputy of the presidency, has reported on cooperation in evaluating the 100-seat Superjet on Iranian flight routes. The ISNA news agency quoted Mr. Manteqi as saying that Iran aims to "carry out some of the production of these aircraft domestically in knowledge-based Iranian companies alongside the purchase." He claimed that "the design and production of Superjet aircraft is done with the participation of reputable Western subsidiaries such as those from the UK, France, the United States, and Switzerland, and so far more than 150 of these aircraft have been sold." Mr. Manteqi also noted the desire to purchase Superjet aircraft, adding that "we aim to carry out part of the production of these aircraft domestically in exchange for purchases made from foreign companies." The Superjet 100 is the first passenger jet produced in Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but after it was involved in an accident three years ago during a demonstration flight, resulting in the deaths of 45 passengers, most of whom were representatives of potential buyers of this aircraft, the export of this aircraft faced difficulties. Currently, the main buyer of this aircraft outside Russia is Mexico, which uses 12 of them in its airlines. The modernization of Iran's air fleet, which has been plagued by international sanctions for years, is one of the promises of the Iranian government that has been emphasized more than ever in recent months as the end of nuclear negotiations approaches. Previously, Mohammad Khodakarami, the then-head of Iran's Civil Aviation Organization, stated that this government organization intends to purchase 80 to 90 Boeing and Airbus aircraft annually in the "first phase of fleet modernization." Mr. Khodakarami added that the text of the nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers on July 14 explicitly lifted the prohibition on the sale, lease, transfer, engines, and parts of aircraft. In this context, Akhoundi stated: "We have not approached Sukhoi for fleet modernization." Iran faces a "50 percent" shortage of its air fleet. A member of parliament criticized Boeing's proposed prices to Iran. Russia is negotiating with Iran for the "sale of passenger aircraft." "108 grounded aircraft" in Iran are awaiting the lifting of sanctions. Iran Air: If sanctions are lifted, we will act to purchase 100 aircraft.