No OFAC License Needed for Sukhoi Planes

A Russian-made Sukhoi Superjet 100 landed at Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport on Monday for demonstration purposes.

Sukhoi officials said they have lowered the share of American-made parts to 10%, making it possible for Iranians to lease or purchase the plane without seeking the permission of US Treasury’s Office for Foreign Assets Control, as is the case with other plane brands such as Airbus. 

The Russian planemaker has been pitching its products to Iranian airlines since sanctions were lifted against Tehran, amid the pressing need for Iran to renew its aging air fleet. 

However, the plane does not have a good reputation in Iran due to its poor safety record.

“Iranian carriers may consider using SSJ-100, if the Civil Aviation Organization issues certificates for operating the airplane,” Maqsoud Asadi Samani, secretary of Iran’s Aviation Companies Association, said after meeting Sukhoi’s representatives.

  “The plane, priced at $20-25 million, would allow carriers to operate flights to smaller airports,” he said.