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Iran is in talks to buy short-haul planes from international manufacturers, said Abbas Akhoundi, the Iranian Roads and Urban Development Minister.

He said the ministry plans to buy planes of less than 100 seats to use in underdeveloped regions, Fars news agency reported.

He pointed out to his talks with international manufacturers on the sidelines of the Paris Air Show, adding that the participation of international companies in the expansion on Iranian airport was also discussed.

The national aviation fleet is 20 years old and the industry should be renovated once the sanctions on the country are lifted, he noted.

Earlier this month, Akhoundi said that in the next 10 years, Iran would need as many as 400 passenger planes which needs at least a $20 billion investment.

Meanwhile, the head of the Iran Civil Aviation Organization Ali Reza Jahangirian has said that a number of plane manufactures have traveled to Iran over the past year, discussing possible agreements and assessing the market.

The official said Iranian airlines are currently operating with a fleet of about 140 aircraft, which is “much lower than average international norms in terms of international indexes of population and area”.

The Iranian aviation industry is under U.S. sanctions that have resulted in a series of aerial mishaps and deaths of hundreds of people.

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