Criminal Policies of Iran Regarding Financial and Banking Crimes with an Emphasis on the Misuse of Financial Technologies: A Comparative Study with the European Union and the United States

Financial-banking crimes and the misuse of modern financial technologies (FinTech) are among the emerging challenges in financial and legal systems, posing significant threats to economic security and financial stability in various countries. The expansion of FinTech has facilitated the commission of crimes such as money laundering, cyber fraud, and evasion of regulatory frameworks, prompting criminal justice systems to reconsider their legislative and executive approaches.
This study aims to examine Iran’s criminal policy in dealing with financial-banking crimes, particularly the misuse of financial technologies. It conducts a comparative analysis with the legal systems of the European Union and the United States to assess the strengths and weaknesses of Iran’s criminal justice strategies in this domain.
The research employs a descriptive-analytical method based on document and library studies. In this context, domestic laws, judicial practices, and executive frameworks in Iran are compared with the legal and institutional experiences of the mentioned jurisdictions.
The findings indicate that Iran’s criminal policy faces several challenges, including legislative gaps, weak oversight of financial institutions, misalignment with international developments, and lack of structural coherence. In contrast, the EU and the US have adopted more successful models through preventive approaches, smart tracking technologies, comprehensive legislation, and effective enforcement mechanisms.
Accordingly, revising criminal laws, enhancing digital monitoring infrastructures, empowering regulatory institutions, formulating technology-driven criminal policies, and aligning with international standards are essential steps toward improving the effectiveness of Iran’s criminal policy in addressing technology-driven financial crimes.