Iran to manufacture passenger planes: official

TEHRAN - An Iranian official has said Iran will manufacture passenger planes, local media reported Sunday.

Iranian experts have completed the feasibility studies of Iran's national plan to build 150-passenger airplanes and the project has entered the designing and manufacturing phase, President of Tehran's Amir Kabir University Alireza Rahaei was quoted as saying by Press TV.

By 2021, the country needs 600 passenger planes out of which 270 aircraft should have the capacity for 100 to 150 passengers, said Rahaei.

Iranian experts at Amir Kabir University, Iran University of Science and Technology, as well as Fars Science and Technology Park will take part in the megaproject for manufacturing the 150-passenger aircraft, he added.

Iran has seen several air disasters, involving both civil and military aircraft, in recent years.

Experts said the US-imposed sanctions against Iran, which prevented its allies from selling aircraft or plane parts to the country, have undermined safety standards within Iran's civil and military aviation fleet and are increasing the likelihood of more air disasters.