Iran is moving quickly to upgrade its logistics infrastructure, adding shipping and air cargo capacity now that Western economic sanctions are gone.

Iranian shipping companies haven't been able to upgrade since 2006, when the US led the world into imposing sanctions to coerce Tehran into giving up its nuclear program.  With that out of the way, Iran's state-owned state-owned shipping company put in a US$700 Million order with South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries.  The order covers four mega-container vessels capable of moving 14,500 containers each and six tankers for petroleum products.  The first deliveries are expected in the second quarter of 2018.

The deal was welcomed in South Korea, where ship builders have largely been idle during the world shipping slowdown that has seen shipping companies crashing or merging because of overcapacity.

Meanwhile, Iran Air called Boeing and put in a US$16.6 Billion order for 80 jets, including 30 wide-body 777s.  These planes are slated for both the international passenger and cargo markets.  It's the first major deal between Iran and a US company since Donald Trump became president-elect last month.