Perception versus reality: Iranian banks and international anti-money laundering expectations
Journal of Money Laundering Control
ISSN: 1368-5201
Article publication date: 22 July 2020
Issue publication date: 25 May 2021
Abstract
Purpose
Iran has been ranked by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as one of the foremost countries in the world for money laundering. However, Iranian banks claim that they comply with international standards for reporting suspicious activity, risk management and training. This paper aims to investigate this dichotomy between perception and reality.
Design/methodology/approach
A Wolfsberg-style questionnaire was sent to partners in Iranian accounting firms, which have audited domestic banks over the past five years to investigate the adequacy of risk management systems.
Findings
Most Iranian banks have anti-money laundering (AML) systems, which compare favourably with those of international counterparties. Banks take a risk-based approach to potential criminal behaviour. The negative perception of Iranian banks is principally attributable to the government’s unwillingness to accede to “touchstone” international conventions. In spite of having in place AML laws, which are comparable in intent with those of the UK and the United States of America (USA), weak enforcement remains a significant impediment of which the political establishment is aware.
Practical implications
Measures required to bring Iranian banks into compliance with international standards may be less extensive than perceptions suggest. However, failure of the government to accede to conventions stipulated by the FATF means that banks may remain ostracised by foreign counterparties for the foreseeable future.
Originality/value
This study provides a unique insight into the extent of AML compliance in Iranian banks as verified by external auditors.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was assisted by Vania Nic Tadbir Co. (an Iranian accountancy firm). The authors would like to thank all the Certified Public Accountants who participated in this research by completing the questionnaire and providing insight and expertise. The authors especially thank Dr. Khaleghi for his support and encouragement.
The authors confirm that they have no competing interests to declare.
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Citation
Molla Imeny, V., Norton, S.D., Salehi, M. and Moradi, M. (2021), "Perception versus reality: Iranian banks and international anti-money laundering expectations", Journal of Money Laundering Control, Vol. 24 No. 1, pp. 63-76. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMLC-06-2020-0064
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited