Boeing Highly Likely to Cancel Iran Deal: MP

Iranian lawmaker, Mohammad-Javad Jamali Nobandegani, believes it is highly likely that Boeing would cancel its contract with Iran due to the newly passed travel ban against Iranians by US President Donald Trump, according to a Farsi report by Mizan Online News Agency.

Boeing’s pending $8 billion deal with Iran Air was already in serious doubt before President Trump’s executive order Friday barred travel to the US by nationals and travellers of seven Muslim countries, namely Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, for the next three months, The Seattle Times reported.

The report says the travel ban adds an immediate logistical barrier as pilots, cabin staff and maintenance crews will be unable to enter the US for training on how to fly and safely maintain Boeing airplanes.

Commenting on the issue, Mohammad Yahyavi, an Iranian-born former Boeing vice president who is now retired and living in Bellevue, said the ban leaves Boeing “in a very tough situation.”

“They have a sales commitment and a customer,” Yahyavi said. “On the other hand, they have government policies to obey. I know which will prevail. It’s the government.”

Expounding on the same issue, Jamali Nobandegani said any move or decision is expected from Trump during his terms in office.

Slamming Trump’s moves as unwise and baseless, he stressed, “Undoubtedly, at present, it is highly probable that Boeing would revoke its deal with Iran. This is a possibility which cannot be denied.”

The US is not willing to let Iran benefit from the advantages of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action — signed between Iran and P5+1, Jamali Nobandegani said, adding, “We should not expect otherwise. The US hostility towards Iran has been proven to us.”

He stressed that Iran is required to take exigent measures to be prepared to foil the US’ plots in time, particularly those aimed at violating the JCPOA.

“At present, every move by the Trump administration hints at the US government’s disposition to revoke the nuclear deal. We are required to be ready with appropriate countermeasures.”