Iran has signed a $16.6 billion deal for 80 Boeing passenger jets and claims to be close to another for dozens of Airbus planes.<br /><br /> It’s Tehran’s biggest package of firm contracts with Western companies since Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution.<br /><br /> The Airbus deal, which is expected to involve a first batch of 50-60 jets, should be completed in the next couple of days.<br /><br /> The Boeing contract comes after last year’s pact between Iran and world powers to reopen trade in return for curbs on Iran’s nuclear activities.<br /><br /> However political opposition could yet threaten the deal in both countries.<br /><br /> In the US, Congressional Republicans are trying to counter last year’s nuclear accord by passing a bill last month to restrict financial transactions by US banks in an effort to block the sale of Western passenger jets to Iran.<br /><br /> In Iran the deal is viewed as a crucial political test for the government of pragmatist President Hassan Rouhani, who has been criticised by hardliners opposed to opening up to the West.<br />
