EU needs to see Iran ‘in more realistic light’

Mr. Abbas Araghchi who was speaking to the press during a book unveiling ceremony in Karaj, said that the EU should develop an accurate view of Iran and see the country in more realistic light after the implementation of the nuclear deal (JCPOA); “the world now has come to totally new conclusions about Iran as an influential country in the Middle East which would be effective in addressing regional and global crises; the European countries are well aware of this, with Iran proving its good will in the implementation of nuclear deal,” he told the press.

Araghchi believed that the EU had been working to revise its dominant view of the past about Iran; however, “such attempts have to be continued for reaching a more mature view of Iran; for example, the recent statement by the EU about Iran suffer pitfalls and it levels unfounded charges against the country with which the Union seeks new level of détente,” he added.

On the issue of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF), deputy-FM believed it was ambivalent in Iranian setting, since “it provides opportunities, benefits, and capacities, while at the same time, harboring concerns of being a tool by which international organizations find access to country’s key financial data,” Araghchi told the press.

“However, it is effective in curbing and monitoring flow of money and resources to terrorists through international systems; the concerns voiced by some specific circles inside the country on FATF (in possible targeting Resistance front under pretext of fighting terrorism) are legitimate; it should be argued against these concerns that FATF currently focuses on ISIL, Taliban, and Al-Qaeda and their sources of income, who use international complicated banking methods,” he emphasized, holding that the Resistance groups never used such extraordinary banking systems to transfer and receive money.

“Both sides of the issue should be carefully addressed; the core of the FATF comprises 34 country, with 108 countries as recognizing its standards, since they all have interests in fighting money-laundering; they have addressed also access to their key financial data to rule out possible abuse,” said the nuclear negotiator.

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