The member countries comprising the special financial action group have rebuffed the Iranian regime’s assertion of undertaking effective measures to exit the FATF blacklist.
During the latest FATF member nations’ gathering, it was declared that Iran’s regime fails to meet the conditions for delisting from the organization’s blacklist, primarily due to its failure to ratify the Palermo and CFT conventions alongside unresolved crucial matters.
The acknowledgment of the lack of substantial progress in implementing the action plan by the regime constitutes a dismissal of claims by the central bank and economic authorities regarding FATF’s requested resolutions.
On February 1st, the Minister of Economy of the regime purported that by meeting some deadlines outlined in UN Resolution 2231, Iran has convinced FATF to consider removing its name from recommendation number seven, thereby mitigating the risk for other countries in their trade exchanges with Iran.
Ehsan Khandouzi underscored that this development signifies a reduced risk in trade exchanges with the regime.
In late January, economist Vahid Shaghaghi elucidated the primary reason behind Iran’s persistent inclusion on the FATF blacklist, stating, “It’s not as simple as expecting the FATF issue to be resolved with the Minister of Economy’s letter. If the current government intends to remove Iran from the blacklist, it must advance two existing bills to parliament for approval.”
These bills, whose significance was underscored during the Hassan Rouhani government, have languished due to opposition from the Expediency Discernment Council of the System and the regime’s principlist faction.
Over the past two years, with the elucidation of the ramifications of Iran’s inclusion in the FATF blacklist on commercial exchanges with various countries, including China and Russia, some officials of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce have emphasized efforts by Ebrahim Raisi and regime officials to push for their approval by parliament and the Expediency Discernment Council of the System.
In October, the regime’s Ministry of Economy claimed, “We have embraced FATF Convention standards in combating money laundering and terrorist financing, with ongoing efforts to align laws and regulations accordingly.” However, the FATF’s latest report underscores the unresolved terms of the Palermo and CFT bills as the primary reason for Iran’s continued blacklisting.
The Ministry of Economy has also indicated that decision-making concerning the Palermo and CFT bills falls within the purview of the National Security Council and the Expediency Discernment Council.
It’s evident that the approval of these bills, serving as mechanisms for transparency in combating terrorism, would impede the regime’s ability to circumvent sanctions and financially support proxy militias. The regime has ensnared the country’s economic plight in regional tension policies, with repeated emphasis on the potential pressure on the IRGC and its Quds Force due to suspicions of involvement in money laundering, smuggling, and illicit trade.
Meanwhile, recent remarks by the head of Iran’s Central Bank advocating for Iran’s adherence to FATF standards have surprised experts, signaling a potential shift in regime understanding regarding international institutions’ communication mechanisms and the repercussions of Iran’s exclusion from this framework.
Despite this, the regime persists in a policy exacerbating the populace’s suffering, grappling with daily livelihood challenges and shortages in basic necessities such as food and medicine.
Source » irannewsupdate