Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei ended all government hopes on passing a draft bill forbidding the funding of terror groups and money laundering.
The draft bill blocked by Khamenei was a step in the direction of Iran joining in on the international Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering—Tehran, however, demanded that a replacement draft be prepared.
The Supreme Leader asked for the parliament to steer clear from international conventions and agreement and opt for an independent draft on countering illicit monetary activity.
“We do not need to approve treaties, which have problems, for their positive aspects,” Khamenei said, calling the parliament to pass domestic laws on fight against money laundering and terrorism.
Khamenei made the remarks in a meeting with MPs in Tehran June 20, the official website of the Iranian leader said.
“There is no need to accept things for some of their positive aspects when we do not know where they are leading, and when we do know that they have some flaws,” Khamenei added.
Khamenei's stand ended the debate among supporters of Iran joining FATF and conservatives, countering a major Iranian diplomatic move to ease the impact of US sanctions.
Iranian FATF rejectionists say that the international task force targets Revolutionary Guards activities and its foreign arm, the Quds Force, as well as the funding of armed groups such as Hezbollah.
The Iranian government has tried to pass a law banning the financing of terrorism and money laundering ahead of a meeting of the international FATF group scheduled for the end of June.
Whereas the regular military defends Iran's borders and maintains internal order, according to the Iranian constitution, the Revolutionary Guard is intended to protect the theocratic regime ruled by Khamenei.
Last March, FATF gave Tehran a deadline to pass a law on handling globally blacklisted criminals.
The draft agreement is part of talks on the sidelines of the nuclear deal as part of Iranian government's efforts to lift restrictions off some banks.
Lifting sanctions is the government objective in its plan to encourage foreign investment and engage in world trade.
In 1989, the seven major industrialized countries Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, Britain and the United States announced setting up a body to set monetary standards as well as procedures and policies for transparency of international financial and banking systems.
