Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Iran will probably sign a deal to buy Airbus aircraft during his visit to France starting Monday. “We already use Airbus or Boeing planes today,” Rouhani said, according to a transcript of an interview with broadcaster France 2 and Europe 1 radio, made available to AFP on Wednesday ahead of its airing. “Usually when conditions are right, our buyers will buy from one or the other, and probably it will be Airbus.” Iran seeks to upgrade its aging fleet, which has been hamstrung by years of western sanctions imposed over its nuclear energy program, making even spare parts precariously difficult to source. Iran struck a landmark nuclear deal with world powers in July, clearing the way for the lifting of sanctions.
