Iran Pursues FATF Normalization at Eurasian Anti-Money Laundering Summit

TEHRAN (Iran News) Hadi Khani, Iran’s Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance and Head of the Financial Intelligence Unit, told reporters on Tuesday that the Islamic Republic’s presence at the EAG summit is of significant strategic importance.

“This meeting is critical for Iran, as it provides a platform to share knowledge and collaborate with other countries. Most importantly, it offers us the opportunity to showcase our efforts in combating money laundering and terrorist financing,” Khani said.

Khani, who also serves as Secretary of the Supreme Council for the Prevention and Combating of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, noted that presenting Iran’s actions at such forums helps boost the country’s reputation and lowers its risk profile in the eyes of the international community.

He explained that Iran, as an observer member of EAG, has previously used this regional forum to highlight its progress. At the current summit hosted in Moscow, Iran has brought representatives from key sectors — including the Economic Security Police and the banking system — to further present its initiatives.

Khani stated that reporting on Iran’s actions began on Monday, May 26, the opening day of the summit. He added that the main session, scheduled for Thursday and Friday, will include comprehensive reports on Iran’s anti-money laundering efforts and associated decisions.

On the sidelines of the summit, the Iranian delegation is also scheduled to meet with heads of anti-money laundering departments from BRICS member states.

Additionally, Khani mentioned that a working group — proposed by Iran — focused on anti-money laundering and narcotics-related issues among Caspian Sea littoral states has been established and will also convene during the summit.

According to Khani, Iran achieved a milestone at the previous EAG meeting in India, where a resolution was passed to support the country’s removal from the FATF’s high-risk and non-cooperative jurisdictions list.

This topic, he said, was again raised in a meeting on Sunday with EAG leadership ahead of the main sessions in Moscow.

Khani expressed optimism, citing the recent approval of the Palermo Convention by Iran’s Expediency Council and ongoing discussions regarding the ratification of the CFT (Combating the Financing of Terrorism) Convention.

“This progress has created renewed hope and motivation both within the EAG Secretariat and among member states to assist Iran in overcoming the FATF-related challenges and resuming normal engagement,” he said.

Khani emphasized the importance of networking with countries that are both EAG and FATF members to mitigate the effects of FATF’s countermeasures — restrictions that currently impact Iranian nationals’ financial transactions abroad.

“We aim to leverage the expertise and support of countries like India, Turkey, China, and observer states such as Japan, to accelerate the normalization of Iran’s status within FATF,” he stated.

The 42nd EAG Plenary began on Monday in Moscow with Iran participating as an observer member. More than 200 delegates from over 15 countries across Eurasia, the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia, along with representatives from more than 20 international organizations, are attending.