Iran acquires commercial aircraft ahead of US sanctions: report

Iran reportedly received five new commercial airplanes on Sunday in what are expected to be among the final imports to the country before the U.S. reimposes sanctions lifted under the Iran nuclear deal. 

The Associated Press reported that a shipment of five new ATR72-600 planes arrived in Tehran as part of a deal with French-Italian manufacturer ATR for 20 aircraft. However, only 13 planes have been delivered since sanctions on Iran were lifted under the nuclear pact. 

The U.S., which withdrew from the nuclear deal in May, will reimpose some sanctions on Iran starting Monday. 

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The AP reported that ATR has pushed the U.S. for permission to send the final seven airplanes to Iran.

President Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Obama-era nuclear deal, which offered sanctions relief in exchange for Tehran reining in its nuclear program.

As part of the withdrawal, the U.S. will on Monday begin to sanction Iranian transactions with U.S. dollar banknotes; trade in gold and precious metals; direct or indirect sales of graphite, raw or semi-finished metals and Iran’s automotive sector.

A second wave of sanctions will be reimposed in November that target Iran’s energy and banking sectors.

Trump said last week he would be willing to meet with Iranian leaders without preconditions, a notable about face from his threats against the country last month.

Iran has thus far rebuffed Trump’s offer.