Despite Rouhani's Government Request, the Expediency Council Did Not Approve the Palermo Bill

While Hassan Rouhani's government had called for a quicker review of the Palermo Bill by the Expediency Council, this council did not approve the bill in its session on Saturday, January 19, and some members of this body spoke of "many flaws" in it. According to ISNA news agency, it was decided in the Saturday session that two political-defense and legal-judicial commissions would review the bill for Iran's accession to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo) and the results would be discussed in the next session of the council. Ahmad Tavakoli, a member of the Expediency Council, stated that an extraordinary session would be held on Wednesday to review this bill, and it is expected that the review will be completed by next Saturday. Additionally, Mohsen Mojtahed Shabestari, another member of the Expediency Council, reported that "many flaws" were raised regarding the Palermo Bill in the Saturday session, which is why a vote was not held on it. Laya Joneidi, the legal deputy of the President, had announced on Friday that the government had requested the Expediency Council to review the Palermo Bill more quickly. This bill is one of four bills related to the implementation of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) regulations. The "Amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Financing Law" and the "Amendment to the Anti-Money Laundering Law" are two related bills that have been approved by the Guardian Council and the Expediency Council. Opponents of Iran's accession to FATF regulations, most of whom are appointed by the Supreme Leader, argue that the approval of these bills would block financial assistance to "Hamas," "Hezbollah Lebanon," and similar groups. Meanwhile, Hossein Noori Hamadani, a Shia cleric, stated on Saturday that the approval of such conventions is "against the interests and independence of the country." He added, "International conventions are prepared by Western powers and... should not be implemented within the country." Proponents of Iran's accession to this treaty argue that its opponents fear economic transparency and the prevention of banking corruption. In addition to disagreements over the details of the bills related to FATF regulations, the manner of reviewing these bills in the Expediency Council has also drawn criticism from some government officials and members of parliament. After the formation of a committee in the Expediency Council titled "High Supervisory Board on the Implementation of General Policies of the System," this body sends its objections to the Guardian Council regarding parliamentary approvals, and this council requests the parliament to address these objections. Ali Motahari, the deputy speaker and some other members of parliament have referred to this action as the formation of a "second Guardian Council." Meanwhile, Hashmatollah Falahatpisheh, the head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the parliament, stated that it would have been better for the Expediency Council to announce its rejection or approval of the Palermo Bill today. He emphasized that the council cannot amend the parliament's approval regarding Palermo and can only reject or approve it. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) extended Iran's suspension from its blacklist for another four months on October 19, expressing regret that most of Iran's commitments remain unresolved. Previously, Ali Larijani, the speaker and some other members of parliament had reported that European banks and even banks from "friendly countries" have stated that the condition for cooperating with Iran is the approval of bills related to the implementation of FATF regulations. The legal deputy of the President has also stated that the approval of these bills "facilitates the implementation of the European financial mechanism."