Lawmakers urge Boeing not to sell aircraft to Iran

  • By Richard Lardner Associated Press
  • Wednesday, May 4, 2016 3:32pm
  • Business

WASHINGTON — Three Republican congressmen from Illinois are urging the chief executive officer of Chicago-based Boeing to not sell aircraft to Iran.

The lawmakers tell Dennis Muilenburg in a letter sent Monday that commercial aviation sales to Iran would subsidize a country that is a leading sponsor of terrorism.

Boeing has offered Iranian airlines three models of new aircraft to replace its aging fleet. Last year’s nuclear deal with Iran ended international economic sanctions against Tehran, allowing airline manufacturers to re-enter the market.

Representatives Peter Roskam, Robert Dold and Randy Hultgren said they are confident Boeing’s discussions with Iran are legal.

But they said the beneficiaries of an aircraft sale would be Iran’s “despotic leaders.”

Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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