Iran invites Boeing to Tehran for aircraft deal

TEHRAN, Iran – Iran has invited Boeing to Tehran to negotiate a possible aircraft purchase, just after the country signed a major deal with its rival Airbus, Iran’s state television reported.

The TV station, as well as semiofficial Iranian news agencies, said Transportation Minister Abbas Akhoundi made the announcement Thursday. He gave no timeline for the visit, but said U.S. officials gave Boeing “the green light” for commercial talks with Iran.

Chicago-based Boeing did not immediately return a request for comment early Friday.

The nuclear deal between Iran and world powers allowed for airplane manufacturers to sell aircraft to Iran’s ailing airlines, which have relied on an aging fleet for years.

Iran’s current civil aviation fleet consists of 248 aircraft with an average age of 20 years, of which 100 are in storage.

In January, Iran Air signed a $25 billion deal to buy 118 aircraft from Airbus. The planes will be delivered to Iran over three years, beginning in 2016.

In February, the Iranian transportation minister announced a separate agreement with a French company to build a new terminal in Tehran airport.