Qatar defended its decision to gift a Boeing Co. 747 jumbo jet to the US as a routine transaction between partners, calling criticism of the deal a misguided view of the country as an Arab state trying to gain political influence.

The Qatari prime minister insisted the transaction would be conducted with “full transparency,” as he dismissed bribery allegations as an effort to malign his country.

U.S. officials say it could be converted into a potential presidential aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One. The Qatari government said a final decision hadn’t been made.