State-backed Iran Air has received five more turboprop aircraft from French-Italian planemaker ATR on 5 August, a day before a set of general sanctions imposed by Washington on Iran took effect.

Iran Air placed an order for 20 ATR 72-600 short-haul aircraft in 2016 and is understood to have received eight.

Iranian airlines, primarily Iran Air and Aseman Airlines, placed an order for over 200 aircraft shortly after the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) came into effect in January 2016.

However, Iran Air received only three of the 100 aircraft it placed with France-based Airbus , while US-based Boeing did not deliver any of the 80 aircraft it agreed to sell to Iran Air citing it has not received any down payment from the state-backed carrier.

It is understood that ATR lobbied for a new temporary license with the US Treasury to be able to take advantage of the wind-down period prior to the reimposition of the sanctions.

According to Asghar Fakrieh-Kashan, an adviser to Iran’s Transport Ministry, the delivery of the five aircraft is “a sign of Europe’s commitment to the nuclear accord.”

Despite opposition from European allies, the US walked out of the 2015 nuclear deal on 8 May and is bringing back “maximum pressure” sanctions.

The first set of US sanctions on Iran are set to kick in on 6 August, months after the administration of US President Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal between Tehran and the P5+1 group.

Washington is reimposing sanctions on Iran’s purchases of US dollars, its trade in gold and precious metals, and its dealings with metals, coal and industrial-related software.

The US has told other countries they must halt imports of Iranian oil starting in early November or face financial measures.

Sanctions impacting Iran’s energy sector kick-in on 4 November.