U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says that if Iran were serious about fighting money laundering and terrorism financing, it would have approved laws to make the country in par with international standards.
The international watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) based in Paris in 2017 demanded Iran reform its legal system and banking practices by following international conventions in order to become eligible for unrestricted international banking relations. FATF has put Iran on its black list, pending legal reforms by Tehran.
However, Iran dragged its legislation for more than a year and altogether froze the reforms in early 2019. The FATF has given a new deadline to Iran for November.
Pompeo on Friday tweeted, “If #Iran were serious about combatting terror and adhering to global anti-money laundering and terrorism financing standards…, it would ratify the #PalermoConvention and the Terrorist Financing Convention immediately.”
Hardliners in Iran appointed to key positions by the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei have been responsible for delaying ratification of the necessary bills, which the parliament has already passed.
SEE ALSO: Joining FATF ‘Strategic Mistake,’ Iran Assembly Of Experts Warns