ABSTRACT
Iran has been recognised as both a victim and state sponsor of terrorism. Following the 9/11 attacks, Iran declared its commitment to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373, but it encounters difficulties in adjusting its domestic regulations in line with the international counter-terrorism financing framework. As a non-Western state, acting under very different normative beliefs and structures, it cannot realistically comply with international expectations. However, part of the problem is the failure to articulate those expectations in a way which can be viewed as normatively and politically universal. The core problem, due to which Iranian regulations are incompatible with the international standards, is the adoption of different definition of terrorism which exempts some national liberation movements. This exemption is reflected in both the existing laws related to the issue of terrorism and the policy and practices of Iran. Consequently, Iran is not a party to the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing Terrorism, and it is recognised as a high risk and non-cooperative jurisdiction by the Financial Action Task Force. This chapter aims to clarify Iran’s responses to the international counter-terrorism financing framework from 2001 to present day 2019 with the focus on the policy of Iran in supporting national liberation movements.
