IranAir's managing director, Farzaneh Sharafbafi, had earlier travelled to France to check the delivery of the commercial aircraft.
The French-Italian manufacturer - ATR - has already delivered eight passenger aircraft to Iran. After implementation of the Iran nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPAO), which was signed between Iran and six major world powers on January 16, 2016, Iran's national carrier, IranAir , started direct talks with world aircraft manufacturing companies to renew Iran's aging commercial fleet, which suffered under Western sanctions for many years before the signing of the JCPOA.
However, US President Donald Trump decided to withdraw from the landmark nuclear deal on 8 May 2018, defying diplomatic efforts by his European allies , Russia, China, and much of the international community. Washington started putting pressure on countries to stop their business dealings with Iran, and reimposed unilateral sanctions against Tehran.
However, despite the anti-Iran measures, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on 31 July that his country is after getting a green light from US to supply commercial aircraft to Iran.
Le Maire said Europe needed to react quickly and protect its economic sovereignty. 'Europe must provide itself with the tools it needs to defend itself against extra-territorial sanctions,' Mr Le Maire stressed.
