Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 7
By Fatih Karimov – Trend:
Only two countries, Iran and North Korea remain in the blacklist of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), said Iran's Economy minister Ali Tayebnia.
Cuba was also on the list, but got removed after cooperating with the FATF, Tayebnia said, Iran’s State TV 2 reported.
Without cooperation with the FATF, international banking transactions will be impossible for Iran, despite removal of sanctions against the country, Tayebnia said.
However he added that no commitment has been given to the FATF.
Earlier in June, a financial action plan was handed to Iran by FATF which needed to become operational, in order for Iran to be removed from the blacklist, Tayebnia said.
He added that Tehran in response to the international body announced its readiness for conditional implementation of the plan within the framework of the Islamic Republic Constitution.
The Iranian Anti-Money Laundering Supreme Council studied the FATF’s suggested action plan and realized that the main part of that is in line with domestic regulations.
Only some parts of the action plan need certain changes in the laws, he added.
On June 24, the FATF decided to keep Iran on its blacklist of high-risk countries but welcomed Iranian promises to improve and called for a one-year suspension of some restrictions on Tehran.
The issue of Tehran’s cooperation with the FATF raised objections in Iran as critics accused President Hassan Rouhani administration of having plotted with world powers to restrict some military personages and institutes under last year’s nuclear deal.
The Iranian government has said it is intent upon continuing cooperation with the FATF on anti-terrorism and money laundering actions despite the pressures from domestic critics.
The Supreme Anti-Money Laundering Council, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Economy, issued an announcement Sept. 6, saying the concerns and accusations of the critics are unfounded.