CORRECTED COPY - AUSTRALIA AND FATF IRAN STATEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 001119 SIPDIS FOR ISN, T, NEA, INR, EEB, S/CT AND INL E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2018 TAGS: EFIN KNNP PARM PREL AS SUBJECT: CORRECTED COPY - AUSTRALIA AND FATF IRAN STATEMENT REF: STATE 115523 Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR JAMES F. COLE. REASON: 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (U) This message replaces Canberra 1117. ¶2. (SBU) In response to points raised in reftel, DFAT International Legal Branch Sanctions and Transnational Crime Section Director Peter Scott told us on November 5 that Australia, a member of FATF, has issued a circular on the Australian Transaction Reports And Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) website to the Australian financial community regarding financial sanctions imposed under the "Banking (Foreign Exchange) Regulations 1959. The sanctions relate to Iranian entities and persons who contribute to Iran's nuclear proliferation activities but are not already listed by the United Nations Security Council. ¶3. (C) Scott, who was a member of the Australian delegation at last month's FATF, noted that the GOA has also circulated the UNSCR 1803 text to the Australian financial community and is drafting additional guidance for the Australian Bankers Association on compliance and reporting on Iranian sanctions application. He added that the GOA is in the midst of a city-to-city outreach campaign to the Australian financial community, explaining UN sanctions provisions with a focus on sanctions against Iran. Scott noted that the Australian FATF delegation works closely with its U.S. counterparts and looks forward to cooperating with us at next February's FATF meeting. McCallum