(Courthouse News) Britain Eakin - The U.S. House of Representatives Rules Committee voted 7-2 on Monday to put U.S. financing off-limits for Iran to buy or lease commercial Boeing aircraft, but President Obama has promised to veto the bill. Supporters of the bill say Iran could use the planes for military purposes. Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Tex.) reminded the committee that the Treasury Department sanctioned Iran Air in 2011 for using its planes to transport military equipment on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He said Iran Air has continued to use its aircraft to fly weapons to Syria. "Also last month, Iran conducted military drills using Boeing planes that have been a part of its air force fleet for many years," he said. "This is not surprising as Boeing itself has posted that its commercial jetliners 'make an ideal platform for a variety of military derivative aircraft.'"
2016-11-17 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive