TEHRAN (Iran News) – Head of the Civil Aviation Organization (CAOI) says the U.S. has intensified its sanctions against Iran on its aviation industry through imposing restriction on refueling the passenger planes.

Speaking in a press conference, Mohammad Mohammadi said that the U.S. not only has not removed sanctions but also has increased it on Iran’s aviation industry especially restriction on refueling the passenger planes in the international airports.

He noted in recent days, the U.S. has slapped 3 Iran’s 747 cargo planes with sanctions and the reason is clear. He added that Iran still has problems in the field of education and purchasing spare parts of the planes due to sanctions and has submitted its complaints to the ICAO.

He said in such a condition and after 10 years, a professional team from the ICAO arrived Iran for monitoring and accessing the safety of Iran’s aviation industry and they hailed Iran progress.

Mohammadi then said that currently Iran has 175 active planes in the national aviation industry which are active due to the capabilities of Iranian engineers as the country has reached that level of knowhow that its engineers repair planes of countries in the regions in Iran. He reiterated that 115 planes are active in transporting passengers as the country needs at least 550 planes to meet its demands.

He reiterated that the country is capable enough in repairing the planes but it does not mean that it can provide all of its requirements in the field of maintenance.

Touching upon the lack of safety over Iran’s air space, Mohammadi said that everyday thousands of flights fly past Iran’s air space and EU has confirmed the safety of Iran air space for the passing flights.

He also predicted that the first domestically-manufactured aircraft will join the country’s fleet in the next 3 years.

Mohammadi who is also Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development said, “I predict that the first Iranian passenger plane will enter the passenger air fleet in the next 36 months.”

The aviation head added that the 13th government under president Raisi has ordered the three ministries of road, industry, and defense to jointly work and form a tripartite consortium to design and manufacture the Iranian plane.

He added that the necessary budget has been allocated for the project, adding that the knowledge-based companies will be coordinated by the ministry of the industry in doing the project while the defense ministry will be in charge of the production.

He also confirmed that Russians have asked Iran to help them in repairing their planes because of Iran’s significant progress in repairing Airbus and Boeing planes.

The official further said that Iran needs “as many as 550 airplanes, which have to become available either through domestic production, or importing new airplanes or buying used airplanes.”

On some shooting accident at the plane, he said that the issue is under investigation by the related body and he cannot currently confirm the accident.

He urged the media to follow such news and reports via the official bodies like CAOI and to avoid unreliable sources.