Continued Controversies Over FATF; Shariatmadari and Ejei's Opposition, Motahari's Defense

While senior officials of the Islamic Republic continue to oppose the implementation of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) policies, a deputy speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly has described the opposition to this issue as 'political maneuvering.' According to a report on Wednesday, September 7, by ISNA, Mr. Motahari stated that 'Iran's support for Palestine and liberation movements remains the ideal of the Islamic Revolution and will continue in the best way possible,' adding, 'Opposition to FATF is more political, similar to the opposition to the JCPOA.' Meanwhile, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the spokesperson for the judiciary, stated that 'the issues raised in FATF will further entrap the country, which must be countered with a jihadist spirit.' According to Mehr news agency, Mr. Ejei added, 'In addition to the issues raised in FATF, there is no guarantee that new obstacles will not be raised later.' The Tasnim news agency also quoted Ahmad Alamolhoda, the Friday prayer leader of Mashhad and representative of the Supreme Leader in Khorasan Razavi province, as saying, 'If the FATF issue is not resolved, we will face self-sanctioning.' Mr. Alamolhoda added, 'Even individuals affiliated with foreign countries say that if Mossadegh were here and saw these contracts, he would die of grief, and this indicates the depth of the catastrophe that a person affiliated with America would say this.' Hossein Shariatmadari, representative of the Supreme Leader at the Kayhan Institute and editor-in-chief of this newspaper, also stated that 'the output of FATF is the entry of ISIS.' Mr. Shariatmadari further explained that 'if you implement FATF, you will deprive yourself of power, and when you are devoid of power, you become an easy target for being devoured.' Officials of Hassan Rouhani's government and their supporters have recently rejected criticisms of implementing FATF policies in the areas of combating money laundering and terrorism financing. Ali Tayebnia, Iran's Minister of Economy, stated that without cooperation with this group, despite the lifting of nuclear sanctions, international banking transactions will still not be possible.