WANA (May 14) – In an official session held on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council approved the country’s conditional accession to the Palermo Convention after several months of deliberation. This decision came following three sessions in the council’s general assembly, five sessions in the joint commission, and the conclusion of the review by the High Supervisory Board.

 

What is the Palermo Convention?

The Palermo Convention (formally known as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime) was adopted by the UN in 2000. It is one of the most significant international legal instruments aimed at combating crimes such as human trafficking, drug trafficking, money laundering, and other forms of transnational organized crime. The convention seeks to foster cooperation among member states for more effective action against such crimes.

 

What Conditions Has Iran Set for Joining?

When the Iranian Parliament passed the bill related to this convention, it established five conditions for its implementation. The most important of these is that the provisions of the convention will only be enforced within the framework of Iran’s Constitution and domestic laws. In other words, Iran commits to implementing only those parts of the convention that do not conflict with its national legislation. The Expediency Council approved the accession based on this key condition.

 

This bill had already been approved by Iran’s Guardian Council, and now, with the Expediency Council’s endorsement, it has become legally binding. The Iranian government is now authorized to join the convention, provided it adheres to the stated conditions.

 

It is worth noting that deliberations on another related bill—regarding the Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT)—are also scheduled to be discussed in upcoming sessions of the Expediency Council.