Deutsche Welle, 5 April 2014
Boeing has
announced it has been given limited US government approval to export spare
parts to Iran. It is part of a temporary easing of sanctions against Tehran by
world powers.
Boeing, the
world's biggest plane manufacturer, said late Friday the US Treasury Department
issued it with a license allowing the airline to do business with Iran for the
first time since 1979.
A Boeing
spokesman said the company would now be allowed to export certain spare parts
for commercial planes that were needed to ensure older aircraft could fly
safely. The license covers a limited period of time and does not allow Boeing
to sell new planes to Iran.
The company
will contact officials in Iran to determine which specific parts are needed.
Boeing's last delivery to Iran was a 747-100 jumbo jet in August 1979, three
months before US hostages were seized at the Tehran embassy.
The Islamic
Revolution that year led to US sanctions that were later broadened over a
dispute from Iran's nuclear activities.
Last year,
Iran agreed to limit its nuclear operations in exchange for a temporary easing
of severe economic sanctions from Britian, China, France, Germany, Russia and
the US. A permanent agreement is currently being negotiated.
The
sanctions were introduced to put pressure on Iran to reduce or halt the
capability of it producing a nuclear weapon, an ambition that Iran has denied.
Iran has
said that the sanctions have prevented it from renewing its airline fleet,
forcing it to use sub-standard Russian aircraft and continuing to use planes
that should have long been retired.
jr/dr (AP, Reuters, AFP)
No comments:
Post a Comment