An Analysis of the Role of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in the Effectiveness of the US Unilateral Sanctions (Case Study: Iran)

Employing sanctions has increased now, and has become a dominant US policy in containment and confrontation with independent countries. Along with imposing the unilateral US sanctions, the activities and measures of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to combat money laundering and terrorist financing in the international system have increased. Although the simultaneousness procedures of these two institutions are significantly obvious, the functional relationship between them and their effects on the countries under sanctions are not known and has not been considered by researchers sufficiently. What are the possible consequences and benefits of joining FATF for Iran, the most significant target of the US sanctions? This is an essential question requiring an answer by the country's officials while adopting how to make a deal. This descriptive-analytical research is intended to review the relevant documents to answer this question. The results revealed that FATF, although appearing as an international entity, is under US influence, and its policies make sanctions more effective in four ways. The group's action plan regarding Iran is incorrect in six respects. It and justifies and reinforces US sanctions in two ways: 1) Joining to the conventions restricts Iran's activities in circumventing sanctions and supporting the Axis of Resistance, and the violation of these conventions leads to new regime of sanctions under the UN Security Council. 2) The banks and legal entities are required to impose sanctions and cut ties with sanctioned individuals inside Iran, and a type of self-sanctioning approach follows revolutionary institutions within the country. Therefore, joining FATF does help ease the load of sanctions; rather, it leads to self-sanctions against defense institutions and the support of national security, and reinforces the effectiveness of US primary and secondary sanctions. Consequently, the ratification and full implementation of the FATF is a unilateral, harmful and useless commitment, which only helps the global consensus confront the Islamic Republic financially and economically mush easily.