IRAN REMAINS A TERRORIST FINANCING RISK & THREAT TO INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM
FATF: IRAN REMAINS A TERRORIST FINANCING RISK & THREAT TO INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM
Busan, Korea, 24 June 2016 - The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is the global standard setting body for anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT). In order to protect the international financial system from money laundering and financing of terrorism (ML/FT) risks and to encourage greater compliance with the AML/CFT standards, the FATF identified jurisdictions that have strategic deficiencies and works with them to address those deficiencies that pose a risk to the international financial system.
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Jurisdiction subject to a FATF call on its members and other jurisdictions to apply counter-measures to protect the international financial system from the on-going and substantial money laundering and terrorist financing (ML/FT) risks emanating from the jurisdictions. Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)The FATF remains concerned by the DPRK’s failure to address the significant deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regime and the serious threat this poses to the integrity of the international financial system. The FATF urges the DPRK to immediately and meaningfully address its AML/CFT deficiencies. Further, FATF is concerned about the threat posed by the DPRK’s illicit activities related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and its financing. The FATF reaffirms its 25 February 2011 call on its members and urges all jurisdictions to advise their financial institutions to give special attention to business relationships and transactions with the DPRK, including DPRK companies, financial institutions, and those acting on their behalf. In addition to enhanced scrutiny, the FATF further calls on its members and urges all jurisdictions to apply effective counter-measures, and targeted financial sanctions in accordance with applicable United Nations Security Council Resolutions, to protect their financial sectors from money laundering, financing of terrorism and WMD proliferation financing (ML/FT/PF) risks emanating from the DPRK. Jurisdictions should also protect against correspondent relationships being used to bypass or evade counter-measures and risk mitigation practices, and review the existence of subsidiaries and branches of, and relationships with, DPRK financial institutions in their jurisdiction. |
Jurisdictions subject to a FATF call on its members and other jurisdictions to apply enhanced due diligence measures proportionate to the risks arising from the jurisdiction
Iran
The FATF welcomes Iran’s adoption of, and high-level political commitment to, an Action Plan to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies, and its decision to seek technical assistance in the implementation of the Action Plan. The FATF therefore has suspended counter-measures for twelve months in order to monitor Iran’s progress in implementing the Action Plan. If the FATF determines that Iran has not demonstrated sufficient progress in implementing the Action Plan at the end of that period, FATF’s call for counter-measures will be reimposed. If Iran meets its commitments under the Action Plan in that time period, the FATF will consider next steps in this regard.
Iran will remain on the FATF Public Statement until the full Action Plan has been completed. Until Iran implements the measures required to address the deficiencies identified in the Action Plan, the FATF will remain concerned with the terrorist financing risk emanating from Iran and the threat this poses to the international financial system. The FATF, therefore, calls on its members and urges all jurisdictions to continue to advise their financial institutions to apply enhanced due diligence to business relationships and transactions with natural and legal persons from Iran, consistent with FATF Recommendation 19. The FATF urges Iran to fully address its AML/CFT deficiencies, in particular those related to terrorist financing.
The FATF will continue to engage with Iran and closely monitor its progress.
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Improving Global AML/CFT Compliance: on-going process - 24 June 2016 - other monitored jurisdictions
Busan, Korea, 24 June 2016 - As part of its on-going review of compliance with the AML/CFT standards, the FATF identifies the following jurisdictions which have strategic AML/CFT deficiencies for which they have developed an action plan with the FATF. While the situations differ among each jurisdiction, each jurisdiction has provided a written high-level political commitment to address the identified deficiencies. The FATF welcomes these commitments.
A large number of jurisdictions have not yet been reviewed by the FATF. The FATF continues to identify additional jurisdictions, on an on-going basis, that pose a risk to the international financial system.
The FATF and the FATF-style regional bodies (FSRBs) will continue to work with the jurisdictions noted below and to report on the progress made in addressing the identified deficiencies. The FATF calls on these jurisdictions to complete the implementation of action plans expeditiously and within the proposed timeframes. The FATF will closely monitor the implementation of these action plans and encourages its members to consider the information presented below.
Afghanistan
In June 2012, Afghanistan made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and APG to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies. Since February 2016, Afghanistan has taken additional steps to improve its AML/CFT regime, including to implement the freezing of terrorist assets requirements. However, the FATF has determined that certain strategic deficiencies remain in implementing its legal framework for identifying, tracing and freezing terrorist assets. The FATF encourages Afghanistan to continue implementing its action plan to address its AML/CFT deficiencies.
In June 2015, Bosnia and Herzegovina made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and MONEYVAL to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies. Bosnia and Herzegovina should continue to implement its action plan to address these deficiencies, including by: (1) harmonising criminalisation of terrorist financing in all criminal codes; (2) establishing and implementing an adequate legal framework for freezing terrorist assets under UNSCR 1373; (3) implementing an adequate supervisory framework; (4) implementing adequate AML/CFT measures for the non-profit sector; (5) establishing and implementing adequate cross-border currency controls; (6) harmonising criminalisation of money laundering in all criminal codes; and (7) ensuring adequate procedures for the confiscation of assets. The FATF encourages Bosnia and Herzegovina to continue implementing its action plan to address its AML/CFT deficiencies.
Since October 2014, when Guyana made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and CFATF to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies, Guyana has substantially addressed its action plan at a technical level, including by: (1) adequately criminalising money laundering and terrorist financing; (2) establishing and implementing adequate procedures for the confiscation of assets related to money laundering; (3) establishing and implementing an adequate legal framework for identifying, tracing and freezing terrorist assets; (4) establishing a fully operational and effectively functioning financial intelligence unit; (5) establishing effective measures for customer due diligence and enhancing financial transparency; (6) strengthening suspicious transaction reporting requirements; and (7) implementing an adequate supervisory framework. The FATF will conduct an on-site visit to confirm that the process of implementing the required reforms and actions is underway to address deficiencies previously identified by the FATF.
In October 2013, Iraq made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and MENAFATF to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies. However, the FATF has determined that certain strategic deficiencies remain. Iraq should continue to implement its action plan to address these deficiencies, including by: (1) addressing remaining issues related to its criminalisation of money laundering and terrorist financing; (2) establishing and implementing an adequate legal framework and appropriate procedures for identifying and freezing terrorist assets; (3) ensuring that all financial institutions are subject to adequate customer due diligence requirements; (4) ensuring that all financial institutions are subject to adequate suspicious transaction reporting requirements; (5) ensuring a fully operational and effectively functioning financial intelligence unit; and (6) establishing and implementing an adequate AML/CFT supervisory and oversight programme for all financial sectors. The FATF encourages Iraq to continue implementing its action plan to address its remaining AML/CFT deficiencies.
In June 2013, Lao PDR made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and APG to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies. Since February 2016, Lao PDR has taken steps towards improving its AML/CFT regime, including by issuing instructions related to ML/TF provisional measures. However, the FATF has determined that certain strategic deficiencies remain. Lao PDR should continue to work on implementing its action plan to address these deficiencies, including by: (1) adequately criminalising money laundering and terrorist financing; (2) implementing an adequate legal framework for identifying, tracing and freezing terrorist assets; (3) implementing an adequate AML/CFT supervisory and oversight programme for all financial sectors; and (4) implementing effective controls for cross-border currency transactions. The FATF encourages Lao PDR to continue implementing its action plan to address its AML/CFT deficiencies.
Since February 2010, when Syria made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and MENAFATF to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies, Syria has made progress to improve its AML/CFT regime. In June 2014, the FATF determined that Syria had substantially addressed its action plan at a technical level, including by criminalising terrorist financing and establishing procedures for freezing terrorist assets. While the FATF determined that Syria has completed its action plan agreed upon with the FATF, due to the security situation, the FATF has been unable to conduct an on-site visit to assess whether the process of implementing the required reforms and actions is underway. The FATF will continue to monitor the situation, and will conduct an on-site visit at the earliest possible date.
In February 2014, Uganda made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and ESAAMLG to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies. Since its original action plan, Uganda was subject to a mutual evaluation, which highlighted additional strategic deficiencies. These deficiencies have been included in the revised action plan, to which a renewed political commitment was provided in June 2016. Uganda should continue to work on addressing the following deficiencies: (1) adequately criminalise terrorist financing; (2) establish an adequate legal basis for freezing terrorist funds in relation to UNSCRs 1267 and 1373, and their successor resolutions; (3) ensure that all financial institutions are subject to adequate record-keeping requirements; (4) establish a fully operational and effectively functioning financial intelligence unit; (5) introduce and implement an appropriate legal basis to permit the competent authorities to provide a wide range of mutual legal assistance; and (6) ensure that appropriate laws and procedures are in place with regard to international co-operation for the financial intelligence unit and supervisory authorities. The FATF encourages Uganda to continue implementing its action plan to address its AML/CFT deficiencies.
In February 2016, Vanuatu made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and APG to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies. Since February 2016, Vanuatu has removed the barrier to information sharing between the FIU and law enforcement, and provided guidance in relation to asset freezing and reporting of frozen assets. Vanuatu should continue to work on implementing its action plan to address these deficiencies, including by: (1) adequately criminalising money laundering and terrorist financing; (2) establishing and implementing adequate procedures for the confiscation of assets related to money laundering; (3) establishing and implementing an adequate legal framework for identifying, tracing and freezing terrorist assets and other UNSCR sanctions; (4) ensuring a fully operational and effectively functioning financial intelligence unit; (5) strengthening preventive measures, including for wire transfers; (6) establishing transparency for the financial sector, and for legal persons and arrangements; (7) implementing an adequate AML/CFT supervisory and oversight programme for all the financial sector and trust and company service providers; and (8) establishing appropriate channels for international co-operation and domestic coordination policies and actions on identified risks and ensuring effective implementation. The FATF encourages Vanuatu to continue implementing its action plan to address its AML/CFT deficiencies.
Since February 2010, when Yemen made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and MENAFATF to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies, Yemen has made progress to improve its AML/CFT regime. In June 2014, the FATF determined that Yemen had substantially addressed its action plan at a technical level, including by adequately criminalising money laundering and terrorist financing; establishing procedures to identify and freeze terrorist assets; improving its customer due diligence and suspicious transaction reporting requirements; issuing guidance; developing the monitoring and supervisory capacity of the financial sector supervisory authorities and the financial intelligence unit; and establishing a fully operational and effectively functioning FIU. While the FATF determined that Yemen has completed its action plan agreed upon with the FATF, due to the security situation, the FATF has been unable to conduct an on-site visit to assess whether the process of implementing the required reforms and actions is underway. The FATF will continue to monitor the situation, and conduct an on-site visit at the earliest possible date.
Jurisdictions no Longer Subject to the FATF’s On-Going Global AML/CFT Compliance Process
- Maynmar
- Papua New Guinea