IranAir (IR, Tehran Mehrabad) says it has signed a Memorandum Of Understanding with Boeing (BOE, Washington National) for the purchase of 109 narrow- and wide-body aircraft.

In a statement, the carrier said its tentative order involves over fifty B737 jets, B777-300(ER)s, and possibly the B747-8. The finalization of the contract is still subject to both US and Iranian government approvals.

Earlier this year, Iran Air signed similar commitments with Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) for 118 aircraft and with ATR - Avions de Transport Régional (EVX, Toulouse Blagnac) for up to forty turboprops. Despite early optimism, the finalization of these two agreements has also been bogged down in redtape given Washington's unwillingness to lift a domestic trade embargo on Iran.

Though nuclear-related secondary sanctions were lifted in January this year, the US has, with few exceptions, continued to prohibit US citizens and firms from engaging in transactions or dealings with Iran or its government. Boeing itself was one of the few granted a licence in February to engage the Iranians albeit only to determine their fleet requirements.