Although Iran denies it all the time, it is quite clear that it is still involved in the terrorist activities across the Middle East. Its role is extensive and is not limited to just one or two countries. Much of Iran’s wealth is spent on sponsoring terrorism despite the fact that its own people are living or rather suffering, in a great poverty.
The Iranian regime has established some fake companies in the region, as well as further afield, such as South Korea, the Caribbean, and the Caucasus, so that it can get around the sanctions it has been dealt. Billions of dollars are spent by the regime for funding terrorist groups.
Iran’s officials are playing a very dangerous game in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq in particular and the region is being devastated.
For the third consecutive year, Iran was ranked at the top of the list regarding money laundering violations and the financing of terrorism in 2016. In September of that year, Rouhani’s government signed an agreement with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The FATF actively goes against money laundering and terrorism.
As a result of the agreement, Iran’s situation was to be assessed after 12 months and it was to change its behavior in this time. A warning was sent that if it did not improve and the terms of the deal were not met, it would then be placed on the list of countries that support terrorism.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) was not happy that the Rouhani government signed the agreement, mainly for the fact that it will affect their foreign activities that rely on money-laundering. As Iran has heavy military involvement in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, economic restrictions would be bad news.
A year after the deal was signed, in July this year, the FATF issued a statement saying that Iran had not made enough effort or progress to move away from the money-laundering and the financing of terrorism. It warned other countries against carrying out business activities with Iran for this reason.
It also urged countries that have been dealing with Iran to very carefully look over records to ensure that transactions are legitimate. It advised that future potential deals are also scrutinized to the highest degree.
Because the Iranian regime has a web of fake companies to get around the economic sanctions imposed on them, and because many of Iran’s large companies have links to the IRGC, it would be very wise for the international community to completely cease dealing and negotiating with Iran on business matters.