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Iran's Long Road to Reintegrating with the World Financial System
(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Katherine Bauer - The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), whose 37 members include Russia and China, in February urged member states to warn their banks about the risks of doing business with Iran. Established in 1989 by the G-7, the FATF is the international standard-setting body for anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism. For foreign financial institutions considering renewed ties with Iranian banks, the FATF's continuing designation of Iran as a high-risk jurisdiction and repeated call for countermeasures have real implications. Sanctions relief and SWIFT readmission notwithstanding, significant impediments remain for those banks looking to reestablish financial ties with Iran. The writer is a senior fellow at The Washington Institute and a former official at the U.S. Treasury Department.