U.S. Senators' Reactions to Boeing and Aseman Airlines Agreement

While Aseman Airlines has signed a memorandum of understanding to purchase dozens of aircraft from American company Boeing, reactions to this contract continue; among them, Senator Marco Rubio described it as "concerning," and Senator John McCain stated that despite his opposition to any assistance to Iran, the Boeing contract is "legal." Previously, Republican Congressman Jeb Hensarling, Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, criticized the agreement between Aseman and Boeing. According to a Bloomberg report on April 5, Republican Senator Marco Rubio, in response to reporters' questions about the Boeing and Aseman agreement, said this issue is "worrisome" and that he may take actions to cancel it. On the other hand, Senator John McCain, another Republican senator who is the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, stated, "I opposed the Iran deal (the nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers during Barack Obama's administration), and I have no interest in providing any assistance to the Iranians, but what they have done is completely legal." According to Bloomberg, Senator McCain said, "They have taken their money, and this is not a military system, so there is no need for congressional intervention." Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also emphasized that as long as the Boeing and Aseman agreement proceeds based on a nuclear agreement and remains committed to it, Congress cannot do much to prevent its implementation. In a statement published on Boeing's website, the aircraft manufacturer proposed selling 30 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and starting their transfer to Iran from 2022. According to Boeing, if executed, this contract could create or revive nearly 18,000 new job opportunities. The American aircraft manufacturer emphasized that to implement the agreement, it is seeking approval from the Office of Foreign Assets Control, which is under the U.S. Department of the Treasury. If the Boeing and Aseman contract reaches its final stage, it would be the largest contract of its kind in Aseman's history and could completely transform its current fleet. Critics of this contract, such as Mr. Hensarling, the Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, argue that it must be ensured that these aircraft will not be used "to commit crimes in the region." Iran's passenger airline fleet had become severely outdated and worn out due to the extensive sanctions against the activities of the Islamic Republic prior to the nuclear agreement.