U.S. State Department Welcomes Boeing and Iran Air Agreement

John Kirby, the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, welcomed Boeing's statement regarding its agreement with Iran Air on Tuesday, stating that this agreement is made within the framework established by the nuclear deal, the JCPOA. According to the Associated Press, the American aircraft manufacturer Boeing announced on Tuesday a historic deal with Iran under the nuclear agreement. If this deal goes through, it will be the largest commercial contract between Iran and the U.S. since the 1979 revolution. John Kirby stated: The State Department welcomes Boeing's statement regarding the agreement with Iran Air, and this deal is conducted within the framework outlined by the nuclear agreement with Iran, the JCPOA. Boeing has been in close contact with the State Department regarding this agreement. The State Department spokesperson added: As you know, we have committed under the JCPOA to issue licenses for the sale of passenger aircraft. We will implement this commitment and our other obligations under the nuclear agreement with Iran. John Kirby further stated: The JCPOA allows cooperation between manufacturers of passenger aircraft, including American companies, with Iran in permitted areas. The State Department spokesperson emphasized that such a deal is important for the economy and the safety of passengers. The Associated Press reports that Iranian officials have previously stated that the contract with Boeing for the purchase of 100 passenger aircraft is estimated to be worth approximately $25 billion. Meanwhile, some members of the U.S. Congress oppose the sale of Boeing aircraft to Iran. Peter Roskam, a Republican member of the House of Representatives, told USA Today that Congress will not sit idly by while this deal is made. He also previously stated: 'Boeing and the Islamic Republic should know that Congress will not have a favorable approach to any agreement that may jeopardize the safety of the American people.' This Republican representative mentioned in an article published on March 31 in the Wall Street Journal that 'the Revolutionary Guards have 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 Guards,' stating 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, suggesting that the company may face 'risks' within the U.S. with the final agreement with Tehran. Meanwhile, the Iranian airline announced yesterday that following the issuance of necessary licenses by the governments of Iran and the U.S., the memorandum of understanding for the purchase of aircraft between Iran Air and Boeing was signed in June. According to the state news agency IRNA, under this memorandum, if final approvals are obtained by both parties, 'a number' of Boeing 737 (new generation) and models 900 and 300 from the Boeing 777 series will be purchased by the Islamic Republic of Iran Airlines in the form of 'lease to own.' The Iranian national airline did not specify the number of aircraft to be purchased. Barack Obama, the U.S. president, issued a license for the sale of passenger aircraft to Iran on January 15 last year. This license was issued on the eve of the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which ended the confrontation between Iran and the international community over Tehran's nuclear program. Many of Iran's Boeing aircraft are from the 1970s and 1980s, and the country faces challenges in modernizing its air fleet.