Iran Air planning to grow fleet post-sanctions

[DOHA] Iran Air will need at least 100 passenger jets once sanctions against the country are lifted and will find it easier to do business with companies that cooperated during the current window for sanctions relief, the head of the airline said.

However, in the absence of a long-term deal easing the country's economic isolation, Iran's flag carrier will turn instead to Russia and China as alternative suppliers, Farhad Parvaresh, chairman and managing director of Iran Air, said.

The comments, in a rare interview with foreign media on the sidelines of an airline conference this week, come as Iran and six nations prepare to resume negotiations on a final deal aimed at ending a decade-old dispute over Teheran's nuclear programme.