In the second political debate of the Iranian regime’s upcoming presidential elections, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, one of the presidential candidates and a former Interior Minister, made a startling revelation regarding Saeed Jalili’s opposition to Iran joining the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Pourmohammadi claimed that Jalili’s resistance was not based on policy concerns but rather on political maneuvering to ensure the FATF approval did not occur under Hassan Rouhani’s administration.
Pourmohammadi recounted an incident from 2016 when he discussed the FATF issues at length in the Supreme National Security Council. He revealed that Jalili had stated his support for the FATF if Pourmohammadi were responsible for its implementation but opposed it under other officials, implying a politically motivated stance rather than a principled objection. This revelation has sparked widespread reactions from various political figures and media outlets in Iran.
Abdolkareem Hasanzadeh, a member of the regime’s Parliament, criticized Jalili sharply, accusing him of holding the livelihoods of millions of Iranians hostage for political gain. Hasanzadeh called for Jalili to explain himself clearly, stating that such behavior transcends mere unethical conduct and is an unforgivable action against the Iranian people.
#Iran News in Brief
According to @FATFNews, despite calls for action, Iran's regime remains on FATF's high-risk jurisdictions list due to significant anti-money laundering and #terrorism financing concerns.https://t.co/Y59U8MH6LT pic.twitter.com/gBxaIPksCx— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) February 24, 2024
Former Communications Minister Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi also condemned Jalili’s stance, highlighting the severe economic consequences of not joining the FATF. Jahromi questioned whether Jalili understood the impact of his actions on ordinary Iranians and whether such a mindset was suitable for managing the country.
The controversy over the FATF is deeply rooted in the Iranian regime’s strategy to leverage terrorism as a tool for maintaining power and extracting concessions from the international community. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the highest-ranking officials view funding proxy militant groups as essential for their survival. Approving the FATF would restrict these financial channels, which are vital for groups like the Houthis and Hezbollah, thus weakening Tehran’s ability to project power and influence through these organizations.
In February, the FATF announced that Iran would remain on its blacklist for money laundering, urging member countries to apply enhanced due diligence to their financial transactions with Iran. The group cited ongoing concerns about terrorist financing risks posed by Iran, which threaten the integrity of the international financial system.
The disclosure by Pourmohammadi has drawn attention from other political figures as well. Abdollah Ramezanzadeh, the former spokesman for Mohammad Khatami’s government, questioned whether Jalili’s actions constituted a betrayal of national interests. Yadollah Eslami, the Secretary-General of the Islamic Parliamentarians Society, called for Jalili to be prosecuted, describing his actions as terrifying and destructive.
#FATF Remains Concerned With Terrorist Financing From #Iran. https://t.co/3x04htsHgV pic.twitter.com/WMYzPb08sP
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) March 1, 2017
Former President Hassan Rouhani had previously warned that failure to adopt FATF regulations would increase the cost of financial transactions for Iran by 20%, urging for measures to counter the regime’s international isolation. Critics of the FATF within Iran argue that compliance would hinder financial support to Tehran’s proxy groups, which they view as “resistance movements.”
The debate over FATF underscores the regime’s internal struggle between avoiding international scrutiny and sustaining its strategic priorities. Over the past decade, especially following the nationwide uprisings aimed at toppling the clerical dictatorship, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has firmly resolved his stance. Relying on global inaction and Western appeasement, Khamenei believes he can endure the costs of international isolation and ensure the regime’s survival by continuing its strategy of domestic repression and global terrorism. Therefore, it only takes a policy shift to prove him wrong.