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Iran Air Makes Moves: Seeks Aircraft and Allies Amid Potential Sanctions Relief

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Iran’s national airline, Iran Air, is preparing for its return to the international stage. As nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington continue, the airline is strategically positioning itself to capitalize on a potential easing of sanctions that have, for decades, constrained its growth, limited access to modern aircraft, and hindered global alliances.

During the recent annual meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in New Delhi, senior Iran Air executives seized the opportunity to establish key contacts. According to sources familiar with the discussions, informal approaches were made with representatives from Japan Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, and Royal Air Maroc. The discreet nature of these meetings reflects the lingering political sensitivity surrounding ties with Iran.

Engagements with Boeing and Fleet Expansion Plans

One of the most notable moments of the event was Iran Air’s presence at an evening reception hosted by Boeing. Although no formal commercial talks took place—due to restrictions imposed by U.S. sanctions—the gesture suggests the airline’s interest in acquiring U.S.-manufactured aircraft if legal conditions permit.

With a fleet of fewer than 50 aircraft, many of which are inoperable, Iran Air aims to double its size to 100 planes. To achieve this, it is considering both direct purchases and the acquisition of second-hand aircraft from foreign markets.

According to Cirium data, the average age of Iran Air’s operational aircraft exceeds 20 years. The deteriorating fleet has forced the airline to rely on spare parts from international brokers and perform nearly all maintenance tasks in-house, with support from local workshops.

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An Airline Caught Between Sanctions and Geopolitics

U.S. sanctions, in place since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, have long restricted Iran Air’s operations, limiting its ability to purchase aircraft, components, and technology of U.S. or European origin without prior approval from the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The European Union has also imposed restrictions, and in 2024, it banned Iran Air from flying within the bloc in retaliation for Iran’s support of Russia.

These constraints have compelled the airline to keep an outdated fleet airborne, resorting to cannibalizing inactive aircraft for spare parts. This practice has increased operational risks and complicated international certification for its planes.

Strategic Allies and New Routes in Asia

With Europe off the table for now, Iran Air is focusing on expansion in Asia. It is evaluating new routes to China, Thailand, Japan, India, and Malaysia. In fact, it has already acquired two second-hand Airbus A330-200s from China, though it maintains a preference for Western aircraft over Russian or Chinese alternatives.

Currently, airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Lufthansa still operate flights to Tehran, while Iran Air is negotiating code-share agreements to regain access to destinations barred by sanctions.

A Window of Opportunity

The possibility of a new nuclear deal and recent efforts by former U.S. President Donald Trump to broker trade agreements in the Middle East have opened a narrow window of opportunity. However, the firm stance of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei—who recently dismissed U.S. demands as “arrogant”—suggests a clear resolution remains elusive.

Nevertheless, Iran Air’s active participation in IATA and its reestablished contacts with key players indicate the airline is not waiting idly. It is making strategic moves, testing the waters, and preparing for a takeoff that, after decades of isolation, could herald a new era for Iranian aviation.

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