Editing Iran Air (section)

==History==
===Early years===
[[File:Douglas C-47B EP-ACK Iranian Natnl Ringway 24.04.54 edited-2.jpg|thumb|An Iranian Airways [[Douglas DC-3]] freighter in 1954]]

Iranian Airways was founded in May 1944 by Reza Afshar and Gholam Ebtehaj.<ref name=ICS/> [[World-War II|Post-war]], its first passenger flight was from [[Tehran]] to [[Mashhad]],<ref name=Iranairhistory>{{cite web|url=http://www.iranair.com/portal/Home/Default.aspx?CategoryID=11162545-c3b9-455d-b26d-c8ebe61653f4|title=IranAir Portal|access-date=24 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410094458/http://www.iranair.com/portal/Home/Default.aspx?CategoryID=11162545-c3b9-455d-b26d-c8ebe61653f4|archive-date=10 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> followed by a Tehran-[[Esfahan]]-[[Shiraz]]-[[Bushehr]]-[[Abadan]]-[[Ahwaz]] service. In 1946 the airline established service to Cairo, Baghdad, and Tel Aviv, and in April 1947, to Paris.<ref name=ICS/> Between 1945 and 1962, the airline became a major domestic carrier, also operating some international flights to Europe each week. The fleet consisted of [[Douglas DC-3]]s initially, supplemented by [[Douglas DC-4]] and [[Vickers Viscount]] aircraft later on.<ref name=Iranairhistory/>

In 1954, the privately-owned airline Persian Air Services (PAS) was established. PAS initially operated only freight services, followed by passenger operations between Tehran and other major cities in Iran.<ref name=Iranairhistory/> In 1960, PAS initiated passenger service to several European destinations, including Geneva, Paris, Brussels and London, using [[Boeing 707]] and [[Douglas DC-7]] aircraft leased from Belgium's [[Sabena]] airline.<ref name=FIPersian>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1961/1961%20-%200495.html |title=World Airline Directory |magazine=FlightGlobal |page=503 |volume=79 |issue=2718 |location=London |publisher=Iliffe Transport Publications |date=13 April 1961 |access-date=15 January 2017 }}</ref>

Iranian Airways was nationalized in 1961.<ref name=ICS/> On 24 February 1961, Iranian Airways and PAS merged to form the Iran National Airlines Corporation (HOMA), known as Iran Air, using the [[Huma bird|Homa bird]] as a symbol.<ref name=Iranairhistory/> HOMA was a public sector venture that combined the two predecessor air carriers. Among the aircraft used were [[Avro York]]s, Douglas DC-3s, [[Douglas DC-6]]s, and Vickers Viscounts.<ref name=ICS/> The carrier became a full member of the [[International Air Transport Association]] (IATA) in 1964. Iran Air and South African Airways were the launch customers for the [[Boeing 747SP]].<ref name=Iranairhistory/>

===Rise to global prominence===
{{More citations needed section|date=March 2017}}
[[File:Iran Air Boeing 707-300 Manteufel.jpg|thumb|An Iran Air [[Boeing 707|Boeing 707-320]] at [[Frankfurt Airport]] in 1970]]
[[File:Iran Air Boeing 747SP-86 (EP-IAB) at JFK.jpg|thumb|An Iran Air [[Boeing 747SP]] at [[John F. Kennedy International Airport]] in 1976]]

In 1965, Iran Air took delivery of its first jet aircraft, the [[Boeing 707]] and six [[Boeing 727|Boeing 727-100]], followed by the [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-200]] in 1971, three of the stretched [[Boeing 727|Boeing 727-200]] in 1974, and three variants of Boeing 747 (one 747-100B, two −200M and four [[Boeing 747SP|SP]]), starting in 1978–1979. By the mid-1970s, Iran Air was serving cities in Europe with non-stop and one-stop flights, including over 30 flights a week to London alone.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

On 29 May 1971, the Tehran to New York City route was inaugurated, using [[Boeing 707]]s making a stop-over at [[London Heathrow Airport]]. Shortly thereafter, the route was upgraded to a non-stop flight using Boeing 747SPs, making Iran Air the second Middle Eastern carrier (after [[El Al]]), to offer non-stop service to New York. With this flight, Iran Air set a new world record in time and distance for a non-stop, scheduled long-haul flight (12 hours and 15 minutes, 9,867&nbsp;km – 6,131&nbsp;mi – 5,328&nbsp;nm). In 1978, the airline acquired six [[Airbus A300]] aircraft for use on its domestic trunk and busy regional routes. By the end of that year, Iran Air was serving 31 international destinations stretching from New York City to Peking and Tokyo. Plans were made to offer direct services to Los Angeles and to Sydney, for which the airline's long range Boeing 747SP aircraft were ideal. This would have allowed Iran Air to use Tehran as a midway point between East and West, because of its favorable geographical location. Such plans were never realized but they bear considerable resemblance to the [[hub-and-spoke]] strategies adopted by the [[ME3 carriers]] and [[Turkish Airlines]].

Lt. Gen. [[Ali-Mohammad Khademi]] was the general manager of Iran Air from 1962 to 1978.<ref name=EminentPersians>{{cite web|url=https://web.stanford.edu/group/abbasmilani/cgi-bin/wordpress/publications/eminent-persians/|title=Eminent Persians: Ali-Mohammad Khademi|access-date=10 November 2018|archive-date=12 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112004022/https://web.stanford.edu/group/abbasmilani/cgi-bin/wordpress/publications/eminent-persians/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===The Islamic Revolution===

As a result of [[Sanctions against Iran|economic sanctions against Iran]], Iran Air was unable to expand or replace its fleet.<ref name=AirbusDeal>{{cite web |last1=Zhang |first1=Benjamin |date=29 January 2016 |title=Airbus just sold Iran $25 billion worth of jets including a dozen A380s |url=http://www.businessinsider.sg/airbus-sold-iran-25-billion-airliners-2016-1/?r=US&IR=T#.VrL2F9BhOfQ |location=Singapore |website=Business Insider |access-date=4 February 2016}}</ref> The last time Iran Air was delivered brand-new Western aircraft prior to the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action|2016 lifting of nuclear-related sanctions]] was in 1994 when it received two [[Airbus A300-B4]]s in compensation for the downing of [[Iran Air Flight 655]] by [[USS Vincennes (CG-49)|an American cruiser]] in 1988.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/interview-iran-air-ceo-airbus-boeing-orders/|title=On Location: Interview with Iran Air CEO on New Airbus and Boeing Orders - Airways Magazine|date=12 January 2017|access-date=17 January 2017|archive-date=18 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818193015/https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/interview-iran-air-ceo-airbus-boeing-orders/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/airbus-boeing-iran-air-eu-2016-6|title=Airbus and Boeing are bailing Iran out of a huge problem|website=[[Business Insider]]}}</ref>

In 2001, Iran Air purchased six second-hand [[Airbus A300]]s from Turkey, but only after two years, all six of them ended up grounded at airports in Tehran, Mashhad and Moscow. This caused significant controversy in Iran where officials cited [[General Electric|GE]] engine design flaw and subsequent overheating as the reason for grounding the planes. One of these six planes was later confirmed to have returned to service by 2010.<ref>{{cite news |title=هواپیماهای زمین گیر شده ایران پرواز می کنند؟ |language=fa |trans-title=Do Iran's grounded planes fly? |work=BBC Persian |url=http://www.bbc.com/persian/lg/business/2009/01/090119_ka_iranair_behbahani.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329051625/http://www.bbc.com/persian/lg/business/2009/01/090119_ka_iranair_behbahani.shtml |archive-date=2017-03-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=11 January 2010 |title=ماجرای 6 فروند هواپیمای ترک که به انبار منتقل شدند! |trans-title=The story of 6 Turkish planes that were transferred to Anbar! |url=http://www.mehrnews.com/news/1014818/ماجرای-6-فروند-هواپیمای-ترک-که-به-انبار-منتقل-شدند |website=Mehr News Agency |language=fa}}</ref>

As a result of the close [[Iran–Venezuela relations|ties between Iran and Venezuela]], Iran Air launched a route from Tehran to Caracas via Damascus in March 2007. The airline [[Codeshare agreement|codeshared]] with [[Conviasa]] on the flight, and the passengers included Iranian tourists and Lebanese Venezuelans.<ref>{{cite news |author=Romero |first=Simon |date=3 March 2007 |title=Venezuela and Iran Strengthen Ties With Caracas-to-Tehran Flight |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/03/world/americas/03caracas.html |access-date=30 November 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="fa607">{{cite news |author=Spaeth |first=Andreas |date=2007-06-17 |title=Nach Diktatur verreist |trans-title=Traveled after dictatorship |url=http://www.faz.net/s/RubB4457BA9094E4B44BD26DF6DCF5A5F00/Doc~EF289C12B1966449DBC702A86FBE7FD9A~ATpl~Ecommon~Scontent.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070625192742/http://www.faz.net/s/RubB4457BA9094E4B44BD26DF6DCF5A5F00/Doc~EF289C12B1966449DBC702A86FBE7FD9A~ATpl~Ecommon~Scontent.html |archivedate=2007-06-25 |accessdate=10 April 2023 |work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung |language=de}}</ref> The service was costly to operate. Iran Air utilised a Boeing 747SP, which consumed large amounts of fuel. In addition, the company had to restrict the number of passengers on the flight from Damascus to Caracas, as the [[hot and high|high altitude and heat]] prevented the plane from taking off with a full cabin and fuel tanks. Ultimately, Iran Air lost over {{US$|100,000}} per flight.<ref name="fa607" /> In October 2007, it handed the route over to Conviasa.<ref>{{cite news |date=2007-10-07 |title=La compañía venezolana Conviasa inaugura la ruta Caracas-Teherán con escala en Damasco |language=es |trans-title=The Venezuelan company Conviasa inaugurates the Caracas-Tehran route with a stopover in Damascus |work=Notimérica |url=https://www.notimerica.com/economia/noticia-venezuela-iran-compania-venezolana-conviasa-inaugura-ruta-caracas-teheran-escala-damasco-20071007182234.html |accessdate=9 April 2023}}</ref>

Prior to the separation of [[Iran Air Tours]] from Iran Air in 2011, Russian-made [[Tupolev Tu-154]]s formed the backbone of the former's fleet. However, several successive disasters involving this plane ultimately led to a 2011 blanket ban on its operations within Iranian airlines, including Iran Air Tours.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://themoscowtimes.com/articles/iran-to-ban-tu-154-flights-4224|title=Iran to Ban Tu-154 Flights|date=16 January 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pravdareport.com/business/companies/19-01-2011/116565-iran_tu_154-0/|title=Iran bans Russia's Tu-154 planes|date=18 January 2011}}</ref> The [[Tu-154]] fleet was gradually replaced with [[MD-83]]s over the course of a few months.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://flyingwithfish.boardingarea.com/2010/10/15/iran-air-moves-away-from-tupolev-towards-boeing/|title=Iran Air Moves Away From Tupolev Towards Boeing|date=15 October 2010|website=Flying With Fish|author1=Flyingfish|access-date=28 March 2017|archive-date=29 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329050759/http://flyingwithfish.boardingarea.com/2010/10/15/iran-air-moves-away-from-tupolev-towards-boeing/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

According to Iran's Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development in 2014, Iran had more than 100 planes, some of them owned by Iran Air, grounded due to the lack of access to new parts and technical expertise during the [[Sanctions against Iran|sanctions era]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iranair.com/portal/home/?news/18437/16079/12404/Over-100-Iranian-airplanes-still-grounded|title=IranAir Official Site-IranAir_Portal-Over 100 Iranian airplanes still grounded|website=www.iranair.com|access-date=2022-02-07|archive-date=2017-03-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329062944/http://www.iranair.com/portal/home/?news%2F18437%2F16079%2F12404%2FOver-100-Iranian-airplanes-still-grounded|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The prolonged period of time that Iran Air was under international sanctions and barred from purchasing spare parts and new planes led to a dramatic rise in its average fleet age and plunging safety record.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/ali-delforoush/irans-flying-coffins_b_252090.html|title=Iran's "Flying Coffins"|first=Ali|last=Delforoush|website=[[HuffPost]]|date=5 September 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.traveller.com.au/ancient-jumbo-jet-part-of-the-problem-for-iran-airlines-vintage-plane-fleet-2ylpu|title=Ancient jumbo jet part of the problem for Iran airline's vintage plane fleet|date=3 December 2013}}</ref> As of March 2017, Iran Air's average fleet age stands at 24.1 years, though this figure is set to improve through addition of new deliveries.{{Cn|date=October 2024}}

Iran Air's subpar on-time performance, amongst those of most other Iranian airlines, has led to public anger and frustration, often inciting protests in the form of violent confrontations with the airline employees or airplane sit-ins for many hours after a severely-delayed flight has finally landed. Officials routinely attribute the delays to the economic sanctions, although at least one pro-revolutionary ideologue has cited "inefficiency and mismanagement" as the chief cause of this issue.<ref>{{cite news |last=McDonnell |first=Patrick J. |date=1 March 2015 |title=Iran's airline passengers are mad and aren't taking it anymore |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-iran-airline-passengers-20150301-story.html}}</ref>

===EU ban and refueling issues===
[[File:Iran Air Airbus A300 (EP-IBA) arrives London Heathrow Airport 21September2014 arp.jpg|thumb|left|An Iran Air [[Airbus A300|Airbus A300B4-600R]] lands at London's [[Heathrow Airport]] in 2014. As of 2025, Iran Air is one of the last remaining commercial operators of the Airbus A300.]]

On 5 July 2010, an aviation official of Iran accused the UK, Germany and the United Arab Emirates of refusing to refuel Iranian passenger jets.<ref>{{cite news |date=5 July 2010 |title=Britain, Germany and UAE refuse to refuel Iran planes |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/7872532/Britain-Germany-and-UAE-refuse-to-refuel-Iran-planes.html |access-date=24 April 2015}}</ref> This move followed unilateral sanctions imposed by the US over the nuclear weapons dispute. Iran Air and [[Mahan Air]] both claimed to have been denied refuelling. A spokeswoman for [[Abu Dhabi Airports Company]] (ADAC) said that a contract was in place to refuel Iranian passenger flights and ADAC would continue to do so. A spokesperson for the [[Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom)|United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority]] said that it was the sole decision of independent suppliers if aircraft were to be refuelled or not. Germany's Transport Ministry said the refuelling of Iranian aircraft was not banned under EU or UN sanctions but did not say whether any independent refuellers were denying refuelling.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/10511420.stm|title=Iran says its passenger jets were refused fuel abroad|work=BBC News|date=5 July 2010|access-date=24 April 2015}}</ref> Later in the day, Dubai Airport revealed that it continued to refuel Iranian passengers flights in and out of Dubai.<ref>{{cite news |date=5 July 2010 |title=Dubai airport continues to refuel Iranian planes |work=Reuters |url=https://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFLDE6641GL20100705 |url-status=dead |access-date=24 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225081350/http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFLDE6641GL20100705 |archive-date=December 25, 2010}}</ref> The next day, a spokesperson for Iran said that no such limitation had been imposed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/10518662.stm|title=Iran rejects claim that planes were denied fuel|work=BBC News|date=6 July 2010|access-date=24 April 2015}}</ref>

On 6 July 2010, it was announced that the European Commission would ban all of Iran Air's [[Airbus A320 family|Airbus A320]], Boeing 727 and Boeing 747 fleet from the EU over safety concerns.<ref>{{cite web |author= |title=Latest EU blacklist bans Iran Air A320s and 747s |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/07/06/344095/latest-eu-blacklist-bans-iran-air-a320s-and-747s.html |access-date=24 April 2015 |website=FlightGlobal |publisher=Reed Business Information Limited}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/10529236.stm|title=EU imposes flight ban on Iran Air over safety|work=BBC News|date=6 July 2010|access-date=24 April 2015}}</ref> This move came as a major blow to Iran Air, limiting flights to Europe with its own aircraft.

In 2012, the EU re-allowed the refuelling of Iran Air aircraft at secondary European airports such as [[Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport|Ljubljana]] and [[Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport|Budapest]], in an effort to retain the refuelling contracts within the EU, rather than letting them go to Serbia or later Belarus and Ukraine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.exyuaviation.com/2014/06/iran-air-to-cease-refuelling-in-ex-yu.html|title=Iran Air to cease refuelling in EX-YU|website=EX-YU Aviation News|date=29 June 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.exyuaviation.com/2011/06/iran-air-ends-belgrade-technical-stop.html|title=Iran Air ends Belgrade technical stop|website=EX-YU Aviation News|date=24 June 2011 }}</ref>

In January 2012, Iran Air's flights to and from London Heathrow operated with a fuel stop at [[Manston Airport]] in Kent. However, the airport announced in December 2011 that this arrangement was to end and it would no longer refuel the company's aircraft. This announcement swiftly followed the closure of Iran's embassy in London as the consequence of the [[2011 attack on the British Embassy in Iran|ransacking of the British embassy in Tehran]]. The airport stressed that it had not breached any trade agreements, as it had no connections with the US.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-15988328 | work=BBC News | title=Manston airport stops refuelling Iran Air flights | date=1 December 2011}}</ref>

===Lifting of sanctions and modernization plans===
{|  style="text-align:center; float:right; font-size:85%; margin-left:2em;"  class="wikitable"
|+ Iran Air orders after the JCPOA
|- 
! Manufacturer
! Aircraft type
! Orders
! Deliveries 
! Contract value<br />(in billions)
! List prices<br />(in billions)
|-
|style="border-bottom-style:hidden; text-align:center;" rowspan="6"|[[Airbus]]
|[[Airbus A320 family|A320-200]]
|6<ref name=AirbusOrdDel>Airbus Orders and Deliveries (XLS), accessed via {{cite web|url=http://www.airbus.com/company/market/orders-deliveries|title=Orders & Deliveries |publisher=Airbus |date=31 December 2016 |access-date=17 January 2017}}</ref>
|{{n/a}}
|style="border-bottom-style:hidden; text-align:center;" rowspan="6" {{n/a}}
|$0.606<ref name="Factbox"/> 
|-
|[[Airbus A320neo family|A320neo]]
|32<ref name=AirbusOrdDel/>
|{{n/a}}
|$3.232<ref name="Factbox"/>
|-
|[[Airbus A321|A321-200]]
|9<ref name=AirbusOrdDel/>
|1<ref name="third airbus">{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-airbus-iranair/third-plane-bought-under-sanctions-deal-arrives-in-iran-idUSKBN16W0JF|title=Third plane bought under sanctions deal arrives in Iran|date=25 March 2017|work=Reuters|access-date=11 January 2020}}</ref>
|$0.946<ref name="Factbox"/> 
|-
|[[Airbus A330|A330-200]]
|9<ref name=AirbusOrdDel/>
|2<ref name="third airbus"/>
|$1.908<ref name="Factbox"/> 
|-
|[[Airbus A330neo|A330-900]]
|28<ref name=AirbusOrdDel/>
|{{n/a}}
|$8.299<ref name="Factbox"/> 
|-
| [[Airbus A350 XWB|A350-1000]]
|16<ref name=AirbusOrdDel/>
|{{n/a}}
|$5.864<ref name="Factbox"/>
|-
|
| [[Airbus A380|A380-800]]
|12<ref name=AirbusOrdDel/>
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|- 
| style="text-align:right;" colspan="2"| '''Total'''
|'''100'''
|'''3'''
|< $10.0<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.euronews.com/2016/12/22/airbus-seals-deal-to-sell-100-aircraft-to-iran|title=Airbus seals deal to sell 100 aircraft to Iran|date=22 December 2016|work=Euronews|access-date=11 January 2020}}</ref>
|$20.856<ref name="Factbox"/>
|-
|style="border-bottom-style:hidden; text-align:center;" rowspan="3"|[[Boeing]]
|[[Boeing 737 MAX|737 MAX 8]]
|50<ref name="Boeing deal"/>
|{{n/a}}
|style="border-bottom-style:hidden; text-align:center;" rowspan="3" {{n/a}}
|$5.620<ref name="Factbox"/>
|-
|[[Boeing 777|777-300ER]]
|15<ref name="Boeing deal"/>
|{{n/a}}
|$5.207<ref name="Factbox"/>
|-
|[[Boeing 777X|777-9]]
|15<ref name="Boeing deal">{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-boeing-deals-idUSKBN1400ZS|title=Iran seals $17 billion Boeing deal, close to Airbus order|date=11 December 2017|work=Reuters|access-date=11 January 2020}}</ref>
|{{n/a}}
|$6.132<ref name="Factbox"/>
|- 
| style="text-align:right;" colspan="2"| '''Total'''
|'''80'''
|'''0'''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-boeing-results-777/boeing-defers-iran-deliveries-eases-output-concerns-idUSKBN1HW2A3|title=Boeing defers Iran deliveries, eases output concerns|date=25 April 2018|work=Reuters|access-date=11 January 2020}}</ref>
|$8.0<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/13/boeings-8-billion-aircraft-sale-to-iran-air-still-safe-for-now.html|title=Boeing's $8 billion deal on sale of 80 aircraft to Iran Air still safe — at least for now|date=13 October 2017|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|access-date=11 January 2020}}</ref> to $9.5<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/boeings-8-billion-iran-deal-always-uncertain-is-now-effectively-dead/|title= Boeing's $9.5 billion Iran deals, always uncertain, are now effectively dead|date=8 May 2018|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|access-date=11 January 2020}}</ref>
|$16.959<ref name="Factbox"/>
|-
|[[ATR (aircraft manufacturer)|ATR]]
|[[ATR 72-600|72-600]]
|20<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-transportation-atr/iranair-signs-contract-with-atr-to-buy-20-planes-idUSKBN17C0IM|title=IranAir signs contract with ATR to buy 20 planes|date=10 April 2017|work=Reuters|access-date=11 January 2020}}</ref>
|13<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-airbus/iran-urges-eu-to-press-washington-on-airbus-deliveries-isna-idUSKBN1OG19X|title=Iran urges EU to press Washington on Airbus deliveries: ISNA|date=17 December 2017|work=Reuters|access-date=11 January 2020}}</ref>
|$0.536<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-13/iran-air-signs-536-million-order-for-20-atr-turboprop-aircraft|title=Iran Air Signs $536 Million Order for 20 ATR Turboprop Aircraft|date=13 April 2017|agency=Reuters|access-date=11 January 2020}}</ref>
|$1.09<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-aviation-atr/iran-orders-up-to-40-atr-turboprop-aircraft-idUSKCN0VA29O|title=Iran orders up to 40 ATR turboprop aircraft|date=1 February 2016|work=Reuters|access-date=11 January 2020}}</ref>
|-
!colspan=2|Total
!200
!16
!$18.5 to $20.0
!$38.334<ref name="Factbox">{{Cite news|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-iran-nuclear-aircraft-deals-factbox/factbox-irans-38-billion-airplane-purchases-under-nuclear-deal-idUKKBN1I9179|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508140321/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-iran-nuclear-aircraft-deals-factbox/factbox-irans-38-billion-airplane-purchases-under-nuclear-deal-idUKKBN1I9179|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 May 2018|title=Factbox - Iran's $38 billion airplane purchases under nuclear deal|date=8 May 2018|work=Reuters|access-date=11 January 2020}}</ref>
|}

In anticipation of a deal being reached for the lifting of sanctions, the chairman of Iran Air, Farhad Parvaresh, stated that the airline would then seek to obtain at least 100 wide-body and short-haul jets.<ref name=IranFleet>{{cite news |last1=Hepher |first1=Tim |date=10 July 2015 |title=Planemakers poised for Iranian buying spree if nuclear deal reached |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-nuclear-aviation-insight-idUSKCN0PK1UF20150711 |location=Paris/Vienna |work=Reuters |access-date=4 February 2016}}</ref>

On Friday 15 January 2016 US president [[Barack Obama]] authorized his secretary of state, [[John Kerry]], to lift the sanctions on Iran civil aviation.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} Following Iran's implementation of the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]] (JCPOA) on 16 January 2016, all sanctions on Iran civil aviation were lifted. As a result, Iranian airlines, including Iran Air, were granted permission to purchase new civil aircraft from any manufacturer as well as to refuel at all European airports, except for two Swedish destinations, [[Stockholm Arlanda Airport|Stockholm]] and [[Göteborg Landvetter Airport|Gothenburg]], due to the fuel supplier [[BP]] still refusing to provide fuel to the Iranian carriers.<ref>{{cite news |date=12 March 2017 |title=حل مشکل سوخت‌گیری هواپیمایی ایران در سوئد تا چند هفته دیگر |language=fa |trans-title=Solving the refueling problem of Iran's airline in Sweden in a few weeks |work=Iranian Students' News Agency |url=http://www.isna.ir/news/95122213956/حل-مشکل-سوخت-گیری-هواپیمایی-ایران-در-سوئد-تا-چند-هفته-دیگر}}</ref><ref name="iranair.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.iranair.com/Portal/Home/ShowPage.aspx?Object=NEWS&CategoryID=15908aa6-3bea-4767-a6f6-d6c956fe8747&WebPartID=4faa9599-bc24-42b2-8f38-3437543bd07e&ID=cc1cd36d-936c-43d0-bb1b-2ce5b2e6c667|title=IranAir Official Site-IranAir_Portal-Iran Air Resumes Refueling in W. Europe|access-date=25 June 2016|archive-date=29 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129142623/http://www.iranair.com/Portal/Home/ShowPage.aspx?Object=NEWS&CategoryID=15908aa6-3bea-4767-a6f6-d6c956fe8747&WebPartID=4faa9599-bc24-42b2-8f38-3437543bd07e&ID=cc1cd36d-936c-43d0-bb1b-2ce5b2e6c667|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 24 January 2016 Tehran hosted the CAPA Iran Aviation Summit organised by CAPA - Centre for Aviation in order to bring both Iranian and international aviation authorities together for considering development plans for Iran's aviation industry. CAPA put the size of [[Economy of Iran|Iran's economy]] somewhere between those of [[Economy of Turkey|Turkey]] and [[Economy of Australia|Australia]], whose commercial airline fleets are in the order of 500-600 aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://centreforaviation.com/analysis/capa-iran-aviation-summit-opens-in-tehran--huge-opportunities-ahead-with-some-challenges-263368|title=CAPA Iran Aviation Summit opens in Tehran – huge opportunities ahead, with some challenges}}</ref> Bombardier presented its regional models during the CAPA summit in Tehran.<ref name="bloomberg.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-24/iran-air-sees-need-for-at-least-20-regional-jets-ceo-says |title=Iran Air Sees Adding 20 Regional Jets, as Bombardier Makes Pitch |last1=Motevalli |first1=Golnar |last2=Kamel |first2=Deena |website=Bloomberg |publisher=Bloomberg LP |date=25 January 2016 |access-date=25 January 2016}}</ref> In a statement, Mr. Parvaresh announced that his airline expected to spend some 3-5 billion US dollars purchasing regional aircraft from manufacturers [[Airbus]], [[Boeing]], [[Bombardier Aerospace|Bombardier]] and [[Embraer]].<ref name="bloomberg.com" />

===Further sanctions===
On 8 May 2018, following US withdrawal from the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action|Iran nuclear deal]], and as part of the reinstatement of the [[United States sanctions against Iran]] lifted in 2015, US Treasury Secretary [[Steven Mnuchin]] announced the decision to revoke all Iran sales licenses already granted to plane manufacturers Boeing and Airbus after a 90-day period.<ref>{{cite news |last=Isidore |first=Chris |date=8 May 2018 |title=New Iran sanctions will kill billions in jet sales. Boeing is ready |work=CNN Money |url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/05/08/news/companies/boeing-airbus-iran-sanctions/index.html }}</ref>

It was announced that Iran Air had to cancel the order for Boeing aircraft due to President Trump's decision to reimpose sanctions against Iran, despite this it has been announced that Iran Air will still be receiving ATR aircraft. It has not yet been announced if Airbus aircraft will still be delivered. Any aircraft being delivered to Iran Air must be delivered within a 90 to 180 day period before the sanctions begin. While members of the Trump administration have advised European companies to stop doing business with Iran now, [[Federica Mogherini]] said the European aim was "maintaining and deepening economic relations with Iran. "The technical experts plan to propose ways to avert disruptions in air, sea and land transport from and to Iran and keep channels open for "effective banking transactions."<ref name="bloomberg.com 2">{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-05-16/oil-drops-near-71-as-industry-data-shows-u-s-inventories-rise|title=EU sticks to nuclear deal and focusses on trade with Iran|newspaper=Bloomberg.com| date=16 May 2018 }}</ref>

In September 2024, [[Germany]], [[France]] and the [[United Kingdom]] announced a new row of sanctions against Iran Air, restricting the airline's ability to operate into European airspace.<ref>[https://www.aero.de/news-48246/Bundesregierung-verhaengt-Sanktionen-gegen-Iran-Air.html aero.de - "Federal government imposes sanctions against Iran Air"] (German) 11 September 2024</ref> That same month, the [[United States Department of the Treasury]] sanctioned Iran Air due to its role in the transfer of weaponry to [[Russia]] during the Russia-Ukraine war.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2024-12-23 |title=Treasury Designates Actors Facilitating Iran's Transfer of Lethal Aid to Russia |url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2570 |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=U.S. Department of the Treasury |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> In October 2024, the [[European Union]] sanctioned Iran Air due to its role in transferring ballistic missiles to Russia.<ref name=":2" />