President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry have repeatedly made much of their determination to continue to bar international trade with Iran, despite an interim nuclear deal and growing international rapprochement making such sanctions less and less tenable. Even US companies are now aiming to test those restrictions.
It is now confirmed that both Boeing and General Electric, to major US aerospace companies, have applied for export licenses covering the six-month window of the interim deal, with an eye toward exporting jet parts to Iran.
GE confirmed the effort, saying they’ve been trying to get permission for such shipments since 2004 for safety reasons, since many of Iranair’s passenger jets are several decades old, and have not had access to replacement parts because of US sanctions.
Boeing declined comment on the matter at all, referring questions to the State Department, who similarly declined comment, referring questions to the Treasury Department. They too refused to comment, but didn’t refer questions anywhere else.
GE says they don’t intend to make a profit on the sales, and will either sell parts at cost or give the proceeds to charity. Industry experts say the companies are eager to get a foot in the door in Iran’s aerospace market, as Iranian officials have said that if a deal is reached and sanctions are lifted, they could buy as many as 400 new jets.
This could be interesting…how much pressure can American industry put on the American Likud to soften the anti_Iran rhetoric and allow these 2 large political donators into the Iranian marketplace. As for GE not wanting to "make a profit"…really? As a GE stockholder (if I was) that would seem antithetical to the goals of the Corporation…no corporation gives up millions of $$$$ profit.
Gee, what a novel concept. No one in DC ever considered what would happen if US foreign policy weren't run by deranged neocons but by Americans, and instead of fighting wars and antagonizing the Arab/Persian/Muslim/Palenstinian/ex-Soviet populations, we conduct business with them? How beneficial that could be US manufacturing (what's left of it) and to the US employment situation?
Not quite the same class of aircraft 'spares' the Iranians were supposed to be trying to buy last week.
But it must be tough having to put out money up front, only to find out somebody at customs is doing his bit to save freedom and putting the ballocks on your shipment..
and missile engines