Germany tightens cash transfer rules as Iran seeks funds

Author: Agencies

Germany’s central bank is changing its terms and conditions to provide for deeper scrutiny of cash transfers, a move that comes as Iran seeks to repatriate cash held in a Hamburg-based bank and the US presses allies to get tough on Tehran.

Iran wants to bring home 300 million euros ($347 million) it has in the European-Iranian Trade Bank ahead of new US sanctions. German authorities have been examining the request for weeks, and the US has made clear its concerns about potential terrorist financing and money-laundering.

Changes to its business conditions taking effect Aug. 25, and released in late July, allow the Bundesbank to block cash transfers in the absence of assurances from those involved in a transaction that it doesn’t violate financial sanctions or rules to prevent money-laundering and the funding of terrorism. It also mentions possible risks to “important relationships with third countries’ central banks and financial institutions.”

The changes don’t specifically mention Iran, but are widely viewed as a reaction to the transfer request.

“We are grateful to our German partners at the chancellery and throughout the government for recognizing the need to act,” US ambassador Richard Grenell told The Associated Press on Saturday. “Iran’s malign activities throughout Europe are a growing concern for us.”

Published in Daily Times, August 5th 2018.

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