• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Egg companies made $1.22 billion in profit off a $6 carton — now they’re buying their way out of a price-fixing case with 53 million donated eggs

2

Meet the Zillennials: The luckiest micro-generation in the workforce, born between 1993 and 1998

3

Economists have found an answer to slowing cognitive decline: Avoid retiring early, study finds

1

Egg companies made $1.22 billion in profit off a $6 carton — now they’re buying their way out of a price-fixing case with 53 million donated eggs

2

Meet the Zillennials: The luckiest micro-generation in the workforce, born between 1993 and 1998

3

Economists have found an answer to slowing cognitive decline: Avoid retiring early, study finds
TechAerospace

Iran’s First Big Purchase: 114 Airbus Jetliners

By
Clay Dillow
Clay Dillow
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Clay Dillow
Clay Dillow
Down Arrow Button Icon
January 19, 2016, 12:12 PM ET
US-AVIATION-AIRBUS A320
An Airbus A320 airplane takes off from a runway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, September 23, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)Photograph by Saul Loeb — AFP/Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Tehran has for months telegraphed its intention to purchase new commercial aircraft to update its aging jetliner fleet just as soon as economic sanctions against the country were lifted. Iranian Transport Minister Abbas Akhoundi made good on that promise Saturday, telling state media that Iran will purchase 114 jets from Airbus Group (EADSY), just hours before the process of formally rolling back economic sanctions on the nation began.

That makes the European aerospace giant one of the first foreign companies to reap the benefits of Iran’s formal reintroduction to the global economy. With 80 million people and $400 billion in annual economic output, Iran is the largest single economy to return to the international marketplace since the end of the Cold War. But analysts warn that the impacts of Iran’s rejoining the global economy will manifest themselves slowly, as a tangled web of remaining sanctions continue to make it risky for companies—particularly U.S. companies—to do business there.

For more, watch this Fortune video:

The deal with Airbus would mark the first steps in a long-promised overhaul of Iran’s 140-plane jetliner fleet, which has suffered from decades of sanctions targeting Iran’s aerospace sector and airlines. According to aviation industry watchers at planespotters.net, the average age of national carrier Iran Air’s 45 jets is roughly 27 years. The inability to obtain necessary parts and training for its airlines has prompted some nations to place restrictions on Iranian jets landing within their borders.

The deal could be the first of many inked by Iranian companies and state agencies as up to $100 billion in assets are unfrozen as part of the landmark nuclear accord hashed out by Iran and the so-called P5+1 nations last summer. Under that deal, Iran agreed to scale back its nuclear research ambitions in exchange for the easing of sanctions leveled at Iran in response to its pursuit of various nuclear technologies that could be used in the development of a nuclear weapon. The U.N.’s nuclear watchdog declared Saturday that Iran had met the criteria set forth in the deal, and the lifting of sanctions began almost immediately.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani tweeted on Sunday that with sanctions lifted, it’s time for Iran’s battered economy to build and grow. Everything from heavy machinery and aircraft components to pharmaceuticals and branded consumer goods have been hard to come by in sanctioned Iran, creating huge pent-up demand for products imported from overseas—particularly durable goods like aircraft and automobiles, IT infrastructure and office equipment, and—critically—foreign currency.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s daily newsletter about the business of technology.

Rouhani told the Iranian parliament on Sunday that he plans to attract up to $50 million in foreign investment over the next five years to boost Iran’s annual economic growth—now more or less stagnant—to an ambitious 8% annually.

But lifted sanctions and lofty goals may not translate into a string of blockbuster deals with foreign companies, analysts warn—at least not immediately. The lifting of sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear program won’t touch sanctions imposed in response to other squabbles the West has with Iran. For instance, sanctions against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) remain in place, and even as nuclear-related sanctions were lifting over the weekend, the U.S. Treasury on Sunday imposed new sanctions against 11 individuals tied to Iran’s ballistic missile development program.

Those individuals are barred from using the U.S. banking system, and therein lies the problem. In order for Western companies—and especially banks—to do business in Iran, they must ensure that whatever endeavors they become involved in are completely quarantined from sanctioned individuals and groups like the IRGC. Given the IRGC’s secretive ties to all sorts of interests across the Iranian economy, that could prove difficult. The penalties for violating such sanctions can reach into the billions of dollars, posing existential risk to some banks and companies.

Oil Slump Gathers Pace as Iran Returns to Market

Iran’s return to the global economic order also won’t help regional economies suffering from persistent low oil prices as Iran begins dumping an estimated 600,000 barrels per day onto global energy markets by mid-year. The International Energy Agency warned Tuesday that markets could “drown in oversupply” as supply cuts by OPEC are offset by Iranian output.

Oil slipped below $28 per barrel Monday, a 12-year low, in response to the easing sanctions. Prices remained below $30 per barrel Tuesday morning.

About the Author
By Clay Dillow
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

‘Devin-kun’: Japan embraces agents as legacy code and a shrinking workforce create a perfect market for an AI software engineer 
AsiaAI agents
‘Devin-kun’: Japan embraces agents as legacy code and a shrinking workforce create a perfect market for an AI software engineer 
By Nicholas GordonJuly 3, 2026
4 hours ago
Chad Hurley and Steven Chen wearing suits
SuccessWealth
YouTube’s founders split over $650 million when they sold to Google in 2006—had they held out, they could have taken a slice of $550 billion
By Preston ForeJuly 3, 2026
10 hours ago
ds
CommentarySoftware
I argued with the father of open source for 2 years. Now the AI fight is the same — only bigger
By David SiegelJuly 3, 2026
13 hours ago
ashok
Commentary250 Years of Innovation
The greatest startup in history: What we can learn from America’s founders at today’s AI frontier
By Ashok N. SrivastavaJuly 3, 2026
13 hours ago
2
Commentary250 Years of Innovation
America’s secret weapon isn’t just innovation — It’s the freedom to fail
By Keith KrachJuly 3, 2026
15 hours ago
A $75 billion valuation, 75 million global customers and on its way to America—Revolut is London’s disruptor extraordinaire
EuropeLetter from London
A $75 billion valuation, 75 million global customers and on its way to America—Revolut is London’s disruptor extraordinaire
By Kamal AhmedJuly 3, 2026
15 hours ago

Most Popular

Egg companies made $1.22 billion in profit off a $6 carton — now they’re buying their way out of a price-fixing case with 53 million donated eggs
Law
Egg companies made $1.22 billion in profit off a $6 carton — now they’re buying their way out of a price-fixing case with 53 million donated eggs
By Wyatte Grantham-Philips and The Associated PressJuly 2, 2026
1 day ago
Meet the Zillennials: The luckiest micro-generation in the workforce, born between 1993 and 1998
AI
Meet the Zillennials: The luckiest micro-generation in the workforce, born between 1993 and 1998
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 3, 2026
18 hours ago
Economists have found an answer to slowing cognitive decline: Avoid retiring early, study finds
Economy
Economists have found an answer to slowing cognitive decline: Avoid retiring early, study finds
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 2, 2026
1 day ago
On Wall Street, analysts increasingly don’t believe the U.S. government’s 'misleading' job numbers
Economy
On Wall Street, analysts increasingly don’t believe the U.S. government’s 'misleading' job numbers
By Jim EdwardsJuly 3, 2026
14 hours ago
Current price of oil as of July 2, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of July 2, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 2, 2026
1 day ago
$25 billion CEO says one-hour interviews are a waste of time—he puts candidates through six hours of tests and wants them to order wine at lunch
Success
$25 billion CEO says one-hour interviews are a waste of time—he puts candidates through six hours of tests and wants them to order wine at lunch
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJuly 3, 2026
18 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.