TEHRAN – Iranian airlines need 500 new aircrafts in the next seven to eight years to modernize the country’s fleet, IRNA quoted Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan, the Iranian deputy transport and urban development minister for aviation affairs, as saying on Wednesday.

According to the official, out of Iran's 250 commercial planes, about 150 are flying while the rest are grounded due to lack of spare parts. Parts and servicing remained nearly impossible to get while the world sanctioned Iran over its nuclear program.

EF/MA