Russian media outlet, RT, has reported that Iran is to buy $21bn worth of satellite equipment and Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ-100) passenger aircraft from Russia.
The twin-engine regional passenger aircraft Sukhoi Superjet 100 became commercially available in 2011. According to RT, more than 100 of the aircraft have already been produced and are in operation by airlines in Indonesia, Laos, Mexico and Russia.
Iran and Russia have also agreed on joint aircraft engine production.
“There is a large share of contracts for the purchase of this type of aircraft,” said Iran Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO) chief Manouchehr Manteghi in an interview with the Sputnik news agency. However, the Iranian official did not elaborate on the exact number of passenger jets to be delivered.
The deals were struck at the MAKS-2015 airshow which took place near Moscow on August 25-30.
During the air show, Iranian Vice President Sorena Sattari revealed to Kommersant daily that Tehran is in active talks with Moscow to potentially negotiate the purchase of at least two types of military aircraft, including the Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A (Il-476) turboprop military transport aircraft, exports of which are expected to begin in 2017.
Tehran is reportedly also interested in using Russian rocket carriers to launch satellites into orbit, according to Sattari.
Bloomberg reported Friday that in January Iran is going to retrieve $29bn from overseas accounts that had been frozen due to international sanctions but which are now set to be released thanks to July’s six-party deal on Iranian nuclear program.
