Iran’s foreign minister urges government to join international money laundering watchdog

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There’s an internal fight underway in Iran over whether the country should join the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) — the international coalition combating money laundering and terrorist financing — and it’s pitting hardliners against those who want more economic alignment with the West.

Within Iran, hardliners and allies of the supreme leader have argued the remaining requirements — the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and the Combating Financing of Terrorism bill — would curtail Iran’s ability to support regional allies such as Hezbollah and Hamas, both of which are U.S.-designated terrorist organizations.

Reformers, however, say the measures are critical for the financial well-being of the country.

Iran’s economy has been in a tailspin since the reinstatement of U.S. sanctions after President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which had lifted economic penalties on Iran in exchange for limits to its nuclear program.

Refusing FATF membership could also jeopardize INSTEX, the new special purpose vehicle created by France, Germany and the U.K. to facilitate humanitarian trade.

Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, founder of Bourse & Bazaar, which tracks developments in Iran’s economy, says regardless of setbacks in parliament, these bills are not dead in the water.

“There is a sense the process wouldn’t have gotten this far if there wasn’t a consensus that this needed to happen,” he said.

Despite the June deadline, FATF has given some leeway to Iran in the past. Batmanghelidj points out that the watchdog, as well as some European countries, both understand the internal pressures working against Rouhani and have attempted to keep the issue from being politicized.

Passing the FATF requirements is part of Rouhani’s vow to fight corruption, curb military control of the economy and stabilize the financial system. But, as Batmanghelidj points out, fulfilling FATF requirements is just one step and more will have to be done. “There will need to be structural changes in the financial system,” he said.

A final decision on FATF requirements has been postponed by the Expediency Council until after the Iranian New Year holiday, which began Wednesday.

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