FATF Urges Countermeasures Against Iran for AML, Terrorism Financing Concerns

The Financial Action Task Force said Iran has not addressed its “deficiencies” in its anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing controls and urged members to “apply effective counter-measures” against the country, according to a Feb. 21 FATF press release. Countermeasures include greater due diligence when doing business with Iran, including greater “supervisory examination” of subsidiaries within the country and “increased external audit requirements.” The FATF said Iran has failed to address a host of terrorism and money-laundering concerns, including “adequately criminalizing terrorist financing,” freezing terrorist assets in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions and verifying wire transfers.