Senior Iranian MP describes FATF decision on Iran as "political"
Chairman of National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of Iranian Parliament has criticized the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for taking a “harsh tone” toward Iran in its latest statement.
Speaking to ILNA news agency, he added “FATF's decision was political and outcome of the FATF meeting was predictable.”
“The political movement against Iran (in FATF) is becoming more powerful and it is closely linked to US policy.”
FATF is a global institution overseeing money laundering and terrorism financing worldwide. It has urged Tehran to conform to its norms, giving it deadlines but extending them several times. On Friday, however, it issued an ultimatum that noncompliance by February 2020 will lead to countermeasures from all member states.
Falahatpisheh said Despite Iran's efforts, political pressures led to a deadline for us, along with the Palermo and the CFT were raised.
The lawmaker also said “I believe that those who sought the approval of Palermo and the CFT in Iran have identified some conditions that were based on Iran's interests but new sanctions and European neutral behaviors led to indifference.”
“So the outcome of "CFT" will not be announced so soon.”
On October 7, 2018, the parliament voted in favor of the CFT. However, the oversight Guardian Council rejected the bill by finding 22 faults with it, which put the fate of the bill on the hands of the Expediency Council.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told reporters that Iran has already pursued an anti-money laundering agenda as a necessity in its domestic laws.
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