US permission needed for Iran-Airbus deal

Tehran, Iran, Apr. 18 By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend: France's Airbus needs Washington's permission to reach a deal with Iran as 10 percent of the Airbus equipment is US-made, said Alain Vidalies, the French transport minister, on Apr. 18. "We started talks with the US some time ago. The negotiations are at a very advanced stage now," Vidalies said Apr. 18 at a press conference with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Akhoundi, Trend's correspondent reported from the event. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani visited Paris in January this year. During the visit, Iran and Airbus signed a $27 billion worth memorandum of understanding for aircraft purchase. Vidalies also says that banking problems still exist with Iran, although the Western sanctions on Iran were lifted in mid-January after implementation of the nuclear deal. Earlier today, Air France signed an agreement with Iran's state-owned airline known as Iran Air or Homa. The first Air France flight between Paris and Tehran in the past eight years landed in Tehran on Apr. 17, carrying Vidalies and a business delegation.