Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says his government will work with international partners to resolve disputes surrounding the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to improve Iran's foreign relations and achieve long-term goals.
Pezeshkian made the pledge on Monday during his first press conference since taking office. More than 300 journalists from both domestic and international media outlets had participated in the event.
“We have no choice but to resolve the FATF discussions. I will certainly write a letter to the Expediency Council to reactivate the FATF discussions so that we can find a solution,” he said when asked how he planned to tackle poverty, remove the sanctions, and improve the economy.
The FATF is a non-binding regulatory institution formed by the United States and its Western allies, supposedly to counter terrorism financing and safeguard the international financial system.
Pezeshkian won a tightly contested presidential runoff against conservative rival Saeed Jalili on July 5.
During his campaign, he said that his administration would seek more engagement with the world, pledging to do every effort to ensure the lifting of sanctions on the Iranian economy.
Iran has been under tough economic pressure after May 2018 when US former president Donald Trump withdrew from a landmark 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran – known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action – re-imposing sanctions on the country.