Iran: At the end of the road, fight over FATF

Iran: At the end of the road, fight over FATF

The regime in Iran is facing a major dead-end over the FATF

Analysis by PMOI/ MEK

Iran, June 21, 2019 - According to Iranian state-run media, next Thursday, June 27, is the last window for Iran to approve the remaining two bills that are needed to join the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the world’s de facto body on money transaction transparency.

The regime’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has already declared the Islamic Republic’s position that unless the European Union creates a channel to circumvent U.S. energy sanctions, Tehran will not approve the FATF bills.

That is why the mullahs have threatened to gradually back off from obligations under the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) if Europe fails to take appropriate measures in a 60-day time frame. Obviously, Europe has rejected the Iranian regime’s ultimatum and once again escalated the controversy over FATF bills in Iran.

The June 18 public session of Iran’s Majlis (parliament) was another scene of the Islamic Republic’s officials from different factions fighting over the fate of FATF bills.

Mohammad Javad Abtahi, a Majlis member close to Iranian regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s faction, revealed that Rouhani’s cabinet has already implemented parts of the bills before they have been approved.

“It’s interesting for you to know that among this turmoil, the honorable government has a resolution on June 15 with the number 33852t 56650… What is this resolution?… An amendment to the 6^th provision of the combating money-laundering law from the FATF resolutions that the parliament has yet to decide upon and the Expediency [Discernment] Council has not passed yet. A few days ago, the government obliged its institutions to implement it. Nobody complains in this country why the government is circumventing the law? What is this resolution?… Isn’t this circumventing the law? Look, they say we are blocking the path of engaging the world. By god, no! We say, just respect the rule of law!” he said.

The Fars news agency, close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), writes about the aforementioned resolutions.

“On the eve of the latest FATF sessions, the government has taken a new measure to implement the program of this international institution. Another part of this program has been approved by the government and the first deputy of the president has communicated it to the related institutions,” the report reads.

Meanwhile, Qasem Mohebali, former head of the Middle East and North Africa desk in the regime’s Foreign Ministry, reveals the truth of the dead-end the Iranian regime faces when it comes to the FATF. “The FATF is the foundation of INSTEX. If Iran wants Europe to succeed in implementing the INSTEX mechanism, the FATF bills need to be approved. This has been delayed and the fate of this issue will probably become clear in the latest FATF meetings. It appears that the INSTEX implementation hinges on Tehran implementing the FATF bills,” he explained.