TEHRAN, Jul. 05 (MNA) � Governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) dismissed certain assumptions that the CBI would consign banking accounts and clients� information to the intl. money laundering body (FATF).


Valiollah Seif�stressed that international banking transactions are not related to the JCPOA, adding �unfortunately, certain individuals hinder the correct implementation of measures by dispersing suspicions, particularly in regard to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).�

Seif went on to clear the misconception that the Central Bank of Iran would give away banking accounts and clients� information to the FATF, saying �our agreement with the FATF is restricted to combating money-laundering and terrorist financing, and Iran itself�decides what is defined as terrorism.�

The Guardian Council has recently approved a bill on combating terrorist financing in a bid to clear the path for increasing Iran�s credit status.�Iran has voluntarily handed the anti-money laundering law to the International Money Fund (IMF), which according to Deputy Governor of the CBI Hamid Tehranfar �would alleviate many concerns of foreign banks for doing business with Iran.�

The FATF�(Financial Action Task Force), an international group that monitors money laundering worldwide, called for a one-year suspension of some restrictions on Tehran�on June 24, welcoming �Iran�s adoption of, and high-level political commitment to, an Action Plan to address its strategic (anti-money laundering and anti-terror financing) deficiencies.��Getting Iran off the FATF�blacklist will provide a good opportunity for the country to normalize its banking industry.

Meanwhile, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in its latest report on countries� risk index, reported Iran�s risk rating with one step improvement from 7 to 6. The countries� risk rating determines investment attraction limit, the cost of credit insurance and foreign financing.

By Mehr News Agency