Iran parliament passes counterterror finance bill
Move is aimed at bringing laws in line with international standards and is seen as vital to salvaging the nuclear deal with European and Asian partners
Iran’s parliament on Sunday approved a bill to counter terrorist financing that was strongly opposed by conservatives but seen as vital to salvaging the nuclear deal with European and Asian partners.
The bill, one of four put forward by the government in a bid to meet demands set by the international Financial Action Task Force (FATF), was passed by 143 votes to 120, according to the semi-official ISNA news agency.
It aims to bring Iran’s laws in line with international standards and allow it to join the UN Terrorism Financing Convention.
A previous bill on the mechanics of monitoring and preventing terrorist financing was signed into law in August.
But joining the UN convention has been controversial because hardliners say it will limit Iran’s ability to support armed groups in the region such as its Lebanese ally, Hezbollah.
Neither I nor the president can guarantee that all problems will go away if we join (the UN convention)
Two other bills – on money-laundering and organised crime – have also been passed by parliament but are being held up by the Guardian Council, which vets all legislation.