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IRAN-POLITICS-TERRORISM
Iran postpones debate on terror financing
TEHRAN, June 10, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Iran’s parliament voted Sunday to
suspend discussion of joining the UN Terrorism Financing Convention for two
months, while it waits to see whether its nuclear deal with world powers will
survive.
There has been an often furious debate among Iranian lawmakers over
whether to join the international Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which
requires members to pass numerous laws against terrorism financing and money-
laundering. Iran and North Korea are currently the only countries on the FATF
black-list, adding to their difficulties in accessing global banking.
But many conservative lawmakers argue the new laws — in the works since
last year — will cut off Iranian support to Lebanese Hezbollah and
Palestinian Hamas — whose military wings are designated as terrorist
organisations by the United States and European Union, among others.
They say the legislation will also condemn members of the Revolutionary
Guards listed as terrorists by the US, including the head of its external
operations, Qassem Soleimani.
But Abbas Araghchi, deputy foreign minister, defended the efforts to join
the FATF, saying it was firmly in Iran’s interests.
“This very parliament was the victim of Daesh (the Islamic State group)
terrorism this time last year… Without international cooperation and
joining international conventions, it is impossible to confront it,” said
Aragchi.
“Inside the country there are some holes and weaknesses in banking
networks, which unfortunately facilitates terrorist groups and drug-
smuggling,” he added.
The Islamic State group (IS) carried out twin attacks last June on Iran’s
parliament and the tomb of revolutionary founder Ruhollah Khomeini, killing
17.
Iran, a majority Shiite country, is considered a primary enemy by Sunni
jihadist groups such as Al-Qaeda and IS — and has directly fought these
groups in Syria and Iraq.
But with the US pulling out of the 2015 nuclear deal last month and
ordering full sanctions to be reimposed on Iran, many say it is pointless to
join the FATF.
The other parties to the nuclear deal — Britain, France, Germany, China
and Russia — are working to salvage the deal and maintain trade ties, but
most international banks already refuse to work with Iran for fear of US
penalties.
On Sunday, lawmakers voted 138 to 103 (with six abstentions) on suspending
the discussion around the Terrorism Financing Convention for two months,
while they wait to see how the nuclear deal discussions play out, according
to ISNA.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1420 hrs