Iran
Iran to cut four zeros from currency
Currency continues to depreciate, inflation climbs and growth slows
Central Bank of Iran accused of role in ‘illicit oil network’
US Treasury targets central bank officials in latest round of sanctions
EU offers Iran sanctions relief with new clearing house
Iran retains access to Swift network despite US sanctions, but new clearing house could provide permanent loophole
The EU tries to rethink its faltering AML regime
The European Union plans to centralise its anti-money laundering efforts following a series of scandals this year. Dan Hardie looks at the options available and the multitude of challenges that remain
Iranian central bank looking for alternative to Swift, local media says
Russia and China might be willing to help circumevent sanctions, expert says
Iran cuts forex restrictions as pressure on currency continues
Authorities say central bank will intervene to support rial
EU countries to build payments link with Iran
“Special purpose vehicle” designed to allow “legitimate business” with Iran, despite US sanctions
Central bank deputy arrested as Iran grapples with forex crisis
Vice governor in charge of forex has been “arrested and sent to jail”, state media reports
New Central Bank of Iran governor appointed
Ministers choose not to renew the term of Valiollah Seif, amid continued rial instability
EBA demands rapid reform at Maltese AML agency
Bank owner arrested in US and charged with financial crime on behalf of Iran
US sanctions Iranian central bank governor
Valiollah Seif and another senior official accused of transferring funds to militant group
Iran seeks to unify exchange rates amid rial plunge
New rate is meant to eliminate gulf between official rate and market, but it remains unclear whether the measure will succeed
Money market revamp would help transmit policy in Iran – IMF
Central bank currently struggles to conduct open-market operations; new policy framework would aid transmission and deepen markets, fund says
Iran makes fresh attempt to free frozen assets
Central bank files complaint against Clearstream demanding assets worth $4.9 billion plus interest
Iran needs financial sector reform – IMF staff
Central bank should have greater independence and supervisory powers, urge IMF staff
Saudi and UAE central banks freeze hundreds of bank accounts
Local sources say newly installed crown prince is moving against other senior royals
Iran central bank slams latest asset freeze ruling
Luxembourg court freezes $1.6 billion of central bank assets amid terrorism compensation case; legal battle may have implications for Iran’s nuclear deal
Iran needs to overhaul monetary operating framework – IMF
Absence of policy rate and emergency lending facilities is creating instability, fund warns; central bank council “dominated” by representatives from other government agencies
UK’s PRA fines Japanese banking group for withholding information
Two arms of banking giant MUFG fall “significantly short” of regulators’ expectations, resulting in fines totalling £26.8m
IMF: Central Bank of Iran should ‘streamline’ committee membership
IMF assessment warns of committees “dominated” by government agencies; fund stresses the central bank should limit membership to its senior officials and independent experts
Iran’s Seif details banking sector clean-up operation
Iranian central bank is working to improve the transmission of its monetary policy, stabilise the banking system and bring itself in line with international standards, governor says
Iran must contain liquidity growth to safeguard inflation success, IMF’s Lipton says
Speaking at the Iranian central bank, David Lipton discusses how inflation can be anchored in single digits, after steadily declining in past year
End of sanctions offers chance to fix Iran’s banking sector
Iranian banks struggling with high levels of non-performing loans may see their situation improve, but deep reforms are needed and the political situation remains complex
Iranian banks may reconnect to Swift as sanctions lift
Reconnection ends four-year exclusion from the global payments messaging service and should make sending international payments considerably less costly