Expediency Council addresses CFT, Palermo bills

TEHRAN – The Expediency Council (EC) on Sunday addressed the ratification of two controversial bills on Iran’s accession to the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

‘Expediency Council to decide about CFT soon’

TEHRAN - Hossein Mozaffar, a member of the Expediency Council, has said that the council will decide about the CFT (the convention combatting financing of terrorism) and Palermo bill by end of the current Iranian calendar month (which ends on June 21).

‘CFT and Palermo are being studied’

TEHRAN - Majid Ansari has said the Expediency Council is studying CFT (the convention combatting financing of terrorism) and Palermo bill.

It is essential experts help Expediency Council in decision on FATF: Foreign Ministry official

TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Tuesday that it is necessary that economic experts help members of the Expediency Council in their decision on joining the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

Zarif highlights necessity of joining FATF

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Sunday that it is essential to approve the bills to join the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

Expediency Council still considering Palermo bill: member

TEHRAN – The Expediency Council will consider the CFT bill after determining the fate of the bill on UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, also known as Palermo Convention, a council member said on Friday.

By Haniyeh Sadat Jafariyeh

Contentious case of FATF membership

The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Friday extended the suspension of countermeasures against Iran for another four months, until June, recognizing the country's efforts in meeting its Action Plan.

Foreign Minister Zarif says Expediency Council should decide on FATF based on realities

Zarif, Araqchi push for ratification of FATF by Expediency Council

TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his deputy Abbas Araqchi on Sunday called for ratification of the FATF by the Expediency Council.

BY Haniyeh Sadat Jafariyeh

SPV: A European mechanism to struggle U.S., gain economic autonomy

In their joint statement on that last day of January, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, and British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt introduced the SPV (a special purpose vehicle) also called INSTEX (Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges), the financial mechanism which enables Iran to keep doing business with the rest of the world despite the draconian financial sanctions imposed by the Trump administration.

‘U.S. seeking to restrict Iran’s defense power through FATF’

TEHRAN - Ahmad Vahidi, president of the Supreme National Defense University, said on Monday that the U.S. is seeking to restrict Iran’s defense and nuclear power through the FATF (Financial Action Task Force).

“EU will not tolerate a suicidal atmosphere against Iran”

MP believes FATF blacklisting of Iran is unlikely 

TEHRAN – The head of the Majlis (parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Committee has said he does not think the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) will blacklist Iran if the country does not fully implement the money-laundering watchdog’s requirements.

Expediency Council to decide on Palermo Convention in next session

TEHRAN – The Expediency Council on Saturday decided to discuss the issue of Iran’s accession to the Palermo Convention in the next session.

MP says Shamkhani not favoring CFT

TEHRAN – An MP has claimed that Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Shamkhani in a closed session of the parliament has clearly said that joining the CFT is not beneficial to Iran.

‘U.S. will impose more sanctions if Iran joins Palermo Convention’

Demonstrators hold sit-in to protest Iran’s moves to join CFT

TEHRAN – A number of demonstrators held a sit-in at a mosque in Tehran on Thursday to protest efforts by Iran to join the CFT and the Palermo Convention, saying it will expose Iran to more sanctions by the United States.

Parliament sends CFT bill to Expediency Council

TEHRAN – The Iranian Parliament (Majlis) on Sunday sent the CFT bill, which the Guardian Council says there is still 19 faults with it, to the Expediency Council.

VP asks Expediency Council to expedite studying Palermo bill

TEHRAN - Laya Joneidi, the vice president for legal affairs, has called on the Expediency Council to expedite studying issues related to Iran’s accession to the Palermo Convention.

Anti-money laundering bill of amendment past Expediency Council

TEHRAN - The Expediency Council on Saturday endorsed a bill of amendment to the anti-money laundering law, a council member announced.

‘Practical action not expedient as Europeans have not formulated SPV yet’

TEHRAN - Abdolreza Farajirad, director general of Strategic Council for Foreign Relations, has said it is not expedient that Iran resort to “practical action” as the Europeans have not yet formulated the special purpose vehicle (SPV) to save the 2015 nuclear deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

‘Expediency Council to decide on CFT based on national interests’

TEHRAN – Mohsen Rezaee, secretary of the Expediency Council, said on Saturday the council will decide about the bill on Iran’s accession to the convention against the funding of terrorism (CFT) based on its own national interests.

Leader was not against reviewing CFT: Larijani

TEHRAN – Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said on Wednesday that the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was not against the legal procedure of reviewing the CFT bill in the parliament.

Iran’s parliament reforms CFT

TEHRAN – Iran’s parliament on Wednesday made changes to the CFT, a legislation to combat financing of terrorism.

Majlis committee finishes review of CFT bill

TEHRAN – The Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee has finished reviewing the CFT bill and has sent the bill for final decision to the parliament, the committee’s spokesman said on Tuesday.

Zarif, Kadkhodaei, Joneydi discuss CFT bill

TEHRAN – The Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy hosted a meeting attended by the country’s top officials on Monday night on the CFT bill, chairman of the committee said on Tuesday.

Zarif to attend Majlis committee meeting on CFT

TEHRAN – The Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee will review the CFT – a legislation to combat financing of terrorism – in a meeting on Sunday with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Parliament to revise CFT: MP

TEHRAN – The Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee will restudy the CFT - a legislation to combat financing of terrorism – on November 18, the committee chairman Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh said on Sunday.

Passing CFT necessary to go forward: ex-lawmaker

TEHRAN – Former senior lawmaker Mohammad Reza Bahonar who is aligned with the conservatives on Monday emphasized the necessity of endorsing the bill for countering financing of terrorism (CFT), ISNA reported.

Iran’s Guardian Council finds faults with CFT

TEHRAN - Abbasali Kadkhodaei, spokesman for the Guardian Council, announced on Sunday that the council had found 20 faults with the CFT - a legislation to combat financing of terrorism - and rejected it.

Expediency Council studies CFT

TEHRAN – On Saturday, Iran’s Expediency Council started deliberations on the bill to join the CFT, a legislation to combat financing of terrorism.

Guardian Council studying CFT at presence of Zarif, Jahangiri, Hemati

TEHRAN – The Guardian Council has held a meeting regarding the CFT, a legislation to combat financing of terrorism with three figures defending the ratification, council’s spokesman Abbasali Kadkhodaei said on Wednesday 

Row over CFT is not good: MP

TEHRAN - Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Chairman Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh has said that a continued struggle over the CFT, a legislation to combat financing of terrorism, is not good.