Iran says it's secured a deal to buy 80 new Boeing airliners at half the price. The planes have a total listed price of US$ 16.6 billion.

Boeing and its European rival Airbus have both signed huge contracts this month with Iran. Airbus has agreed to sell 100 planes worth 18 to 20 billion US dollars to IranAir. The airline says it will pay less than US$ 10 billion for the aircraft.

The replacement of Iran's antiquated civil aviation fleet is one of the biggest economic opportunities of the 2015 accord for the lifting of sanctions. The decision was negotiated by the outgoing administration of US President Barack Obama.