TEHRAN -- While in dire need, Iran could not buy Boeing airliners as long as the United States' sanctions against Iran which bar sales of Boeing airliners to the Islamic Republic are kept in place, press reported said here Wednesday.

"Due to ageing Iranian air fleet, certain private air companies are willing to buy Boeing, but Iran-U.S. political relations has made it impossible," Alireza Manzari, deputy head of the Civil Aviation Organization for legal affairs told the Persian daily Iran.

"Iran's fleet is 22 years old, while other countries replace their fleet after 12 years," he noted.

He, however, added that over the past several years, Mahan Company has bought 3 Air Bus and would buy 2 more in six months, and Homa which has bought 2 Air Bus is in the process of buying 4 others.

"With government's approval, we decide to grant $300 million from extra oil revenues in loans to private companies to refurbish their ageing fleet," Manzari said.

Asked about replacement of components of Boeing airliners, he said that international repair stations replace the components.

Earlier this month, national carrier Iran Air said it planned to buy four Airbus planes and was making payments on four others bought last year.

"The purchase of four planes was finalized last year and our company has already made three five-percent payments on the deal. Four more planes are in line to be purchased," Iran Air Managing Director Ahmadreza Kazemi told IRNA.

Iran Air said last year it had bought four Airbus A330s, two of which were to be delivered in 2001 and the other two the following year.

Iran Air's fleet currently consists largely of old Boeing 747s bought before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Tehran and Washington broke off diplomatic ties in 1980.

(IRNA)