AFP, Istanbul, Oct 4, 2009 – The United States on Sunday urged global action against ’money laundering and terror financing risks’ from Iran and said sanctions against Iranian banks should be implemented by all nations.
Speaking at a meeting of the IMF’s International Monetary and Financial Committee in Istanbul, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner stressed the international community should order ’countermeasures’ against Iran.
’We urge all nations to respond appropriately,’ he said, according to the text of the speech.
Geithner also called for countries to implement a UN Security Council resolution approved last year, imposing sanctions against Iran, by exercising ’enhanced vigilance’ over their links with Iranian banks.
He said states should monitor links between their financial institutions and ’Iranian financial institutions — including branches and subsidiaries abroad — and particularly with respect to Bank Saderat and Bank Melli.’
The US Treasury chief spoke to the IMF policy-setting committee ahead of annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Istanbul on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Washington has toughened sanctions against Iranian companies in the hope of pressuring Tehran to curb its nuclear programme — which the United States says is aimed at developing nuclear weapons, a charge denied by Iran.
The United States also targets Iran’s alleged support for militant groups including Lebanon’s Hezbollah and armed Palestinian groups.