Iran's Expediency Council has conditionally approved the country's accession to the Palermo Convention, according to the Council's spokesperson, Hamshahri reported on May 14.

According to the single-article bill, the government of the Islamic Republic is permitted to join the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (Palermo), subject to the conditions set by parliament.

Mohammad Ali Dehghan Dehnavi announced: "After holding three sessions in the Council's plenary and five sessions in the joint commission, the Expediency Council has conditionally approved Iran's accession to the Palermo Convention.

"The Guardian Council had previously approved this bill. Iran has accepted this convention within the framework of its constitution and domestic laws."

The meeting of the Expediency Council was chaired by Ayatollah Amoli Larijani, with the heads of the three branches of government, most Council members, Guardian Council members, the acting Minister of Economy, and the Foreign Minister in attendance.

Opponents and proponents of the Palermo bill expressed their views during the session, and the review of 11 objections raised by the Supreme Supervisory Board was completed before a final vote was taken. The matter was approved after approximately four months of expert review in the Council's commissions.

Bills and proposals in the Expediency Council plenary require approval by three-fifths of the members. Previously, the Islamic Consultative Assembly (parliament) had approved the Palermo bill with five conditions, which the Guardian Council also confirmed.

The spokesperson added that the review of the CFT (Combating the Financing of Terrorism) agreement is on the agenda for future meetings of the Council.