Iran’s hardliners opposing accession into FATF

Ali Rajab

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, acting on instructions by Supreme Guide Ali Khamenei, approved his country’s accession into the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and ratification of the Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) agreement.

The new move comes as Iran suffers deteriorating economic conditions and rising poverty.

Iran was brought back to the blacklist of the Financial Action Task Force, four years after suspension against the background of its deal with world powers on its nuclear file.

However, the desire of Iran’s mullahs to rescue their financial prospects and the election of a new president in the United States are encouraging a revision inside decision-making circles in the Islamic Republic.

The men with turbans in the republic are hopeful that they sit on the negotiating table with the Americans yet again.

This is coming almost four years after outgoing US President Donald Trump withdrew his country from the nuclear deal with Iran and imposed a new regime of sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

Head of the Iranian regime’s Expediency Council Sadek Larijani criticized Rouhani, even without naming him.

He said some people try deflect Iranian the public’s attention from important issues.

Larijani called on Iranians to stop creating a negative atmosphere in their country.

Rouhani has been trying to convince Iranian institutions of the importance of joining the FATF and ratifying the CFT.

Iran approved into law a new bill on money laundering and another on fighting the financing of terrorism.