US House blocks sale of planes to Iran

The US House of Representatives passed two legislative amendments that would block US aircraft sales to Iran, a week after Boeing said they entered into a USD 25 billion deal to sell 118 aircrafts to Tehran.

The two amendments to the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act were passed by a voice vote and there was no opposition to it, said a statement issued by Congressman Peter J Roskam, in a statement.

Amendment No 45 prohibits the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) from using funds to authorize a license necessary to allow aircraft to be sold to Iran.

And amendment No 46 ensures Iran will not receive loans from US financial institutions to purchase militarily-fungible aircraft by prohibiting OFAC from using funds to authorise the financing of such transactions.

Both the amendments now need to be approved by the Senate before it can be sent to the White House for the US President Barack Obama to sign into law.

Roskam's move comes a week after Boeing and Iran announcing to have entered into a USD 25 billion deal to sell 118 aircrafts.

France's Airbus which has also entered into an agreement to sell planes to Iran too would be impacted by this legislative move as some of its aircraft components are made in the US.

In April, Roskam wrote an Op-Ed in The Wall Street Journal urging Western companies not to do business in Iran.

"If you wouldn't do business with Islamic State, you shouldn't do business with the Islamic Republic," he wrote.

Roskam spoke with French and European media outlets to warn Airbus not to sell planes to the Iranians.

In May, he joined fellow Illinois Congressmen Robert Dold and Randy Hultgren in sending a letter to Boeing's CEO asking the Chicago-based company not to empower the terror-sponsoring regime.

Senior members of the Congressional delegation from Washington state, where Boeing is the largest private employer, crafted another letter of inquiry.

In June, Iranian regime officials announced their intention to buy and lease 109 new Boeing aircraft in a deal worth up to USD 25 billion, pending approval from the US government.

Roskam and Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling wrote to Boeing once again, asking specific questions to help them assess the national security implications of such a deal.