The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is one of the world’s key financial institutions, initially established to combat money laundering through the regulation of financial standards and legislation. Over time, its mandate expanded to include combating transnational organized crime, countering the financing of terrorism, and preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The foundation of FATF’s activities lies in its forty core recommendations, supplemented by interpretative notes. The legitimacy of these recommendations is derived from various international conventions and United Nations resolutions. Particularly after the September 11 terrorist attacks, FATF gained considerable influence, becoming recognized as one of the most significant international regimes in the financial and banking sector.
The central question addressed in this study concerns FATF’s position within the global economic system and international politics, as well as its behavioral pattern toward Iran. The research hypothesis posits that FATF constitutes an integral part of the international banking and financial regime, which, by referencing international conventions and UN resolutions to obtain legitimacy, has expanded its supranational authority, powers, and influence in global economic and political arenas. To address this issue, the study first reviews key international documents related to anti-money laundering efforts, which laid the groundwork for FATF’s establishment. Subsequently, a historical process-oriented analysis of FATF’s evolution is presented, employing a descriptive-analytical methodology to examine its role in the global economy and international politics. Finally, a comprehensive analysis of FATF’s behavioral pattern toward Iran over the past two decades is provided as a case study.