US seeking pretexts to stall Iran’s economy: MP

A senior Iranian lawmaker says the United States is looking for pretexts to stall the growth of the Islamic Republic’s economy.

Chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy Alaeddin Boroujerdi on Sunday dismissed the recent claims by US Secretary of State John Kerry on Tehran’s support for terrorism.

“Since the US is regarded as an established enemy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, it is looking for pretexts with regard to Iran’s economic issues and activities under the current circumstances,” Boroujerdi said.

He added that such measures by the US to impede Iran’s economic growth would bear no fruit.

“The Americans are clearly among the blatant examples of state terrorism and supporters of terrorist measures and extremist groups in the world. They, however, have an unreal view of the Islamic Republic,” the Iranian lawmaker said.

Boroujerdi criticized the US double-standard policies on the fight against terrorism, saying that Washington uses every means to counter Tehran.

“The United States regards itself as the symbol of the fight against terrorism, on the one hand, but it provides terrorist groups in the [Middle East] region with full support, on the other,” he pointed out.

The US secretary of state said on June 28 that the administration of President Barack Obama will hold Iran accountable for its sponsorship of terrorism. However, Kerry at the same time expressed hope to use the promotion of trade with Iran -- for example, through the Boeing deal - to cause “transformation” in the country.

“Doing business is one of the best ways to create interests and vested purpose, if you will, in furthering transformation,” he said at the Aspen Institute’s Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado.

In a statement on June 21, US aviation giant Boeing confirmed a major plane purchase order placed by Iran’s flag-carrier airline, Iran Air.

The Chicago-based manufacturer said it had signed a deal with Iran Air "under authorizations from the US government following a determination that Iran had met its obligations under the nuclear accord reached last summer."

Iran Air, the country's national carrier, has reportedly said it wants to buy the new generation of the Boeing 737, as well as the 300ER and 900 versions of the Boeing 777.

In February, the American company was granted approval from the US government to explore resuming sales to Iran after US sanctions were partially lifted in January following the nuclear agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China – plus Germany started implementing the nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), on January 16.

After the JCPOA went into effect, all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran by the European Union, the UN Security Council and the US were lifted. Iran, in return, has put some limitations on its nuclear activities.

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