Reuters: The U.S. Treasury’s top sanctions official said on Thursday the United Arab Emirates should take a “very close look” at Iranian banks in the UAE and should prevent its banking system from abuse. DUBAI, Feb 28 (Reuters) – The U.S. Treasury’s top sanctions official said on Thursday the United Arab Emirates should take a “very close look” at Iranian banks in the UAE and should prevent its banking system from abuse.
“There are issues that the UAE is grappling with. They also need to do due diligence and be extremely careful not to have their financial system abused,” Stuart Levey, undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, told reporters in Dubai on Thursday during a visit to ask UAE officials to help apply pressure on Iran.
“That means taking a very close look at the Iranian banks operating here,” he added, in an apparent reference to Bank Melli and Bank Saderat.
Levey is touring Middle East financial centers, such as U.S. allies Dubai, Bahrain and Qatar, to build support for a U.S. campaign to raise international pressure on Iran and combat terrorist financing. (Reporting by James Cordahi; Editing by Inal Ersan)
