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TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has publically opposed joining a global anti-money laundering convention.
Referring to recent debates in country's parliament on joining the Financial Action Task Force, Khamenei told lawmakers Wednesday: "It is not necessary to join conventions whose depths we are unaware of."
Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters, said the parliament should instead prepare its own bills against money laundering and terrorism, accusing the convention of merely "securing the interests" of big powers.
Earlier last week the parliament suspended debate on joining FATF for two months out of fear that membership could thwart helping Iran's allies abroad, including Lebanon's Hezbollah and Palestinian Hamas. Both are considered terrorist organizations by the United States.
FATF was established by a G-7 Summit in Paris in 1989.
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