FATF, an organization that monitors terrorism and money laundering at the global level, has once again warned that North Korea, Iran and Myanmar are still high-risk countries. These countries have not only failed to implement anti-terrorism and anti-money laundering laws, but also remain a threat to the global financial system. FATF has said that removing these countries from the blacklist does not give them any kind of license and international financial institutions will have to be careful with them.
Being in the blacklist means that financial institutions limit their transactions and use of resources with these countries, so that the pressure on these countries to improve according to FATF standards can increase. The FATF constantly reviews its list, but all three countries continue to be included in the high-risk areas.
FATF reviewed the progress of many countries
The FATF reviewed the progress of several countries in 2025, including Algeria, Angola, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Lao PDR, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Vietnam. Of these, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Nigeria and South Africa have been removed from the gray list of FATF.
FATF warning on Myanmar
Myanmar was blacklisted in October 2022 after it failed to improve on its action plan. FATF said that if progress is not made by October 2025, drastic measures can be taken. According to FATF, Myanmar has not completed most of the tasks even a year after the deadline of its action plan. Some progress has been made, such as the management of seized assets, but urgent action is still needed to address strategic shortcomings.
What is the reason for action against Iran?
Iran has not yet completed its FATF action plan launched in 2018. In October 2025, it passed legislation related to the UN Terrorist Financing Convention, but FATF says that key shortcomings still remain. After February 2020, Iran reported its situation in January, August and December 2024 and August 2025, but there were no significant changes.
FATF has appealed to all countries and financial institutions to take these high-risk countries and their financial transactions seriously, so that the global financial system remains safe.
Read this also-
‘Being out of the gray list does not mean freedom from funding terrorism’, FATF warns Pakistan
