FinCEN Issues Warning to Financial Institutions
Iran continues to explore techniques that allow it to move funds to terrorist proxy groups in its efforts to destabilize the Middle East and project power by supporting the global operations of dangerous militias, proliferation of weapons, and malicious cyber activities. Financial institutions must be increasingly vigilant in detecting illicit transactions linked to Iran-backed terrorist organizations. Regulators have providing guidance, including red flags, and highlighting methodologies used by terrorist groups to raise funds.
Digital Assets in the Crosshairs
As the digital economy burgeons, cryptocurrencies, tokens, and NFTs have shifted from niche investments to central elements in global finance. Yet, this rapid growth brings complex challenges, especially in the realm of financial security and regulatory compliance. Explore how these assets are increasingly being used to fund activities that threaten global security.
Counterproliferation Finance Detection and Deterrence – What Can Financial Institutions Do?
The U.S. Treasury recently identified proliferation networks operating on behalf of Russia, North Korea, China, Iran, Syria, and Pakistan as threats to U.S. national security. These networks exploited the U.S. financial system to finance the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), including financing to procure WMD components and raising revenues to support efforts by these state actors to advance their WMD activities.
2024 National Proliferation Financing Risk Assessment
The U.S. Department of the Treasury published the 2024 National Proliferation Financing Risk Assessment in February 2024 providing an in-depth analysis of the threats and vulnerabilities related to proliferation financing (PF) and highlighting key countries and non-state actors working to gain access to weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and their components and to conventional restricted weapons and technologies.