MOSCOW (Regnum) -- A number of political and economic experts in Russia contend that the talks between Tehran and Moscow on purchasing Russian planes are the reason of the U.S.’ partially lifting sanctions against Iranian air fleet, ISNA news agency informs.

On October 4, the U.S. State Department informed of Washington’s consent to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s application on supplying Iranian airbuses with parts and service. The U.S. State Department informed U.S. Congress on the decision and addressed to the U.S. Treasury requesting a pertaining permission.

The U.S. State Department’s statement issued as Tehran and Moscow were holding final talks on purchasing and leasing Russian jetliners, demonstrates Washington’s anxiety about the loss of the Iranian airbus market, agency reports quoting a source in an Iran Embassy to Russia.

According to an Iranian expert, the U.S. fear that Iran’s operating Russian planes that are favorably distinctive compared to their Western competitors will open both Iranian and Middle East airbus markets for the Russian aircraft industry.

“In fact, the U.S. State Department statement demonstrates U.S. companies’ anxiety about economic losses, not U.S. humanism towards Iranian people, although the U.S. authorities try to prove the opposite,” the Iranian diplomat remarked.

The Iran Air Tours Airline has signed an agreement on purchasing five cutting-edge Tu-204 jetliners in Russia. The planes will be delivered to Iran before end of 2008. Talks on the agreement with Russia lasted for seven years, yielding finally a mutually acceptable agreement signed September 16, 2006. A Russian company assumed an obligation to deliver the planes to Iran within 18 months.