Page 46 - IRANRptDec21

"Fortunately, with appropriate planning that we had already done, positive negotiations were done to settle the mentioned debt," the Iranian oil minister noted.
9.1.2 Automotive sector news
Combined output of Iran’s three main automakers ‘flat in 1H of Persian year’
The combined output of Iran’s three main automakers was flat year on year in the first half of the Persian calendar year (March 21 to September 22), according to a study of production figures by official news agency IRNA.
Largest carmaker Iran Khodro Corporation (IKCO), second largest Saipa and third largest Pars Khodro reportedly produced 429,414 units in the six-month period, slightly up by 0.87% against the same period of 2020.
IKCO managed 206,000 units—with models based on an old platform of France’s Peugeot—accounting for nearly 66% of the total output. Its output was down 2.7% y/y.
Saipa achieved 165,463 units, up 0.53% y/y.
Its exports stood at over 1,100 units with 195 complete built units (CBU) and 960 semi-knocked-down (SKD) shipments.
Pars Khodro reached 58,017 units, up 17.3% y/y.
Iran’s industry ministry forecasts Iranian auto production will top 1.2mn in the Persian calendar year to late March 2022. If achieved, the figure would represent a year on year gain of nearly 22%.
Iran’s automotive industry is still contending with major US sanctions brought in by the former Trump administration.
9.1.3 Aviation sector news
High-level Iranian officials responsible for downing of Ukrainian jetliner says report issued by association of victims’ families
High-level Iranian officials should be seen as responsible for the January 2020 downing of a Ukrainian jetliner by a missile unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), families of 140 of the victims said in a report released on November 24. The tragedy, which killed all 176 on board Flight PS752 from Tehran to Kiev, could not be described as an accident caused by a missile system operator, the analysis added.
The 200-page report, which takes issue with Iran’s official findings, was issued by an association of victims’ families, mostly Canadian as many of the victims killed in the crash were Canadian citizens or permanent residents. The association’s fact-finding committee, which compiled the report with assistance from aviation and legal experts, said public information and recordings of "high-ranking Iranian officials" were among sources used for the assessment. One of the report’s conclusions is that the missile system operator had vast experience and expertise with short-range missile systems, including service in Syria. He should have been able to distinguish the jetliner from a cruise missile, the report said.
Iran has blamed a misaligned radar and an air defence operator’s mistake for the shooting down of the plane, operated by Ukraine International Airlines (UIA), shortly after it took off from Tehran.
"It is the belief of the association that high-ranking officials of Iran are responsible for the downing of Flight PS752 and not just a handful of low ranking... members as per the claims of the government of Iran," the report stated.
Iran's official findings into the downing of the plane have been criticised by Ukraine and Canada.
A Canadian investigation published in June found no evidence Iran's missile
46 IRAN Country Report December 2021 www.intellinews.com