USA geeft meer aandacht aan witwassen in strijd met Iran

The number of U.S. penalties this year against financial firms laundering money will surpass those of 2012 as President Barack Obama’s sanctions against Iran target its currency, according to consultant BankersAccuity.

Following HSBC Holdings Plc (HSBA)’s record settlement with the U.S. and those of Standard Chartered Plc (STAN) and ING Groep NV (INGA) last year, the government will take a wider focus including smaller firms, said Henry Balani, managing director at BankersAccuity, whose services include anti-money laundering advice. Firms may pay smaller penalties this year, he said.

The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, which enforces economic and trade sanctions, this year has already issued 11 penalties, all except two related to Iran sanctions, according to its website. That compares with a total of 16 last year. Obama on June 3 signed an executive order that would penalize foreign financial firms conducting transactions for the purchase or sale of the Iranian rial -- his ninth such order pressuring the country to halt its nuclear program.