WASHINGTON (Dispatches) -- A Democratic lawmaker has criticized opponents of a multi-billion dollar deal between Boeing and Iran Air and urged economic engagement with the Islamic Republic.
"I think it's appalling that people are marching a crusade against selling Boeing airplanes to Iran," said Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer during a panel hosted by the progressive advocacy group J Street. "That order would create about 100,000 American jobs over the next ten years."
Blumenauer stressed the "profound opportunities" available for "economic linkage" with Iran.
"We've got an election coming up in Iran," he said. "These will be positive signals, that, you know, this is a different era."
The congressman said that "the odds are very strong that there will be change" in Iran.
Panelist Toni Verstandig, executive vice president at the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace, also stressed the economic impact that the Boeing sale would have on America.
"Let there be no mistake, Boeing doesn't sell these planes, it has such profound residual effect … it hits Ohio really, really hard," she said.