Foreign Ministry's Response to Criticism: Palermo Bill Has No Relation to 'Liberation Movements'

The Iranian Foreign Ministry, in response to conservative objections to the approval of the 'Bill for Accession to the Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo)', stated that this bill has no connection to 'liberation movements'. Several conservative figures had protested against this bill due to 'limitations on Iran's support for groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon'. According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry's announcement published on Tuesday, February 9, it was mentioned that Iran's accession to this convention has been 'carefully' reviewed by the institutions of the Islamic Republic over the past 17 years. The ministry stated that the topics of the Palermo Convention include drug trafficking, human trafficking, illegal immigration, and the trafficking of cultural property, and that this convention 'does not address terrorist crimes, financing of terrorism, or other crimes of a political nature at all'. The announcement emphasized that 'linking this convention to the activities of liberation movements and resistance groups is irrelevant'. The Islamic Republic of Iran refers to groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Palestine as liberation movements and resistance groups, while these groups are recognized as terrorist organizations in several countries, including the United States and EU member states. Previously, in the parliamentary resolution for accession to this convention, it was stated that from the perspective of the Islamic Republic, 'this convention will not undermine the legitimate and recognized right of nations or groups under colonial and foreign occupation to fight against aggression and occupation and to exercise the right to self-determination'. On January 24, representatives of the parliament agreed to Iran's accession to the 'United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo)'. According to the single article of this bill, the Iranian government was granted permission to join this convention with several conditions. Among these conditions is the interpretation and implementation of the provisions of the convention, including Articles 2, 3, 5, 10, and 23, based on 'domestic laws and regulations, especially constitutional principles'. The parliament also approved that Tehran, in the event of any dispute arising from the interpretation or implementation of the provisions of the convention regarding Articles 2 and 35, 'does not consider itself obliged to... arbitration or the International Court of Justice'. However, some parliament members and conservative figures expressed concern about the impact of Iran's accession to this convention on the condemnation of Hezbollah, noting that the U.S. recognizes Hezbollah as a terrorist group and a drug trafficker. For instance, according to Iranian media reports, Hossein Ali Haji Deligani, a member of the Stability Front in parliament, shouted after the bill's approval that 'you will see in the future that, like the betrayal that occurred in the JCPOA, there has also been betrayal regarding this bill'. Mojtaba Zolnoor, a member of the Stability Front and a representative from Qom, also called the approval of this bill in parliament 'a clear mistake and blunder'. He cited the U.S. government's accusation against Hezbollah regarding drug trafficking and stated that 'thus, with this accusation, they can take action against Hezbollah, especially since the Islamic Republic is also a member of this convention'. Mohammad Nabi Habibi, the Secretary-General of the Islamic Coalition Party, also stated on Sunday, February 8, that accession to this convention means 'disarming the Revolutionary Guards' and groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon, saying: 'Terrorism interpreters in the convention consider the resistance front and the Guards as terrorists. Setting these conditions for accepting the convention is of no use, and they will do their work'. The Iranian parliament's resolution regarding accession to the convention known as Palermo was approved a few months before Iran's deadline to implement the regulations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The FATF, which combats money laundering and financing of terrorism worldwide, had previously asked Iran to implement necessary reforms in this area, particularly addressing shortcomings in combating money laundering and terrorist financing. After an agreement between the Iranian Central Bank officials in July 2016 with this group regarding combating money laundering and terrorism, this group announced that it had suspended the restrictions on this institution's monetary and financial system on the Iranian banking system for 12 months. This group extended this deadline again in July of this year.