Iran is planning to buy 20 aircraft from Japan’s Mitsubishi Regional Jets (MRJ) under a finance lease agreement.

Deputy minister for international affairs at the Iranian Ministry of Road and Urban Development Asghar Fakhriyeh Kashan said that the country had already held discussions about the deal with MRJs, reported Tasnim News Agency.

However, MRJ is yet to make any final decision on the purchase and has urged for a second joint work group discussion to negotiate on the issue in December.

“Given that Iran's Aseman Airlines performs domestic and provincial flights across the country, Japan’s 100-seat MRJ remains a suitable option for the Iranian carrier.”

Kashan was quoted by Mehr News Agency as saying: “Given that Iran's Aseman Airlines performs domestic and provincial flights across the country, Japan’s 100-seat MRJ remains a suitable option for the Iranian carrier.”

In February, Iran Air finalised a deal with ATR, a joint venture of France’s Airbus and Italy’s Finmeccanica, to buy 20 turboprop aircraft.

Prior to the deal, Iran and Airbus finalised another order that includes the purchase of several Airbus’s largest-selling jets.

Additionally, Iran has entered a $27bn deal to purchase 118 Airbus jets, including 45 A320 single-aisle aircraft, 45 A330 wide-bodies, 16 A350 twin-aisle aircraft and 12 A380 jets.

Kashan also added: “Iran requires more than 20 small airplanes in order to activate and economise numerous small airports inside the country, hence the talks with other aircraft manufacturers.”

With the proposed deal with MRJ, Iran plans to revamp Aseman Airlines, which operates scheduled domestic and international flights, as well as charter and air taxi services.