Da Afghanistan Bank, central bank of the country, on Sunday confirmed that a Kabul-based Iranian bank, the Arian Bank, has been closed over money laundering charges.
Arian Bank, located in Wazir Akbar Khan in downtown Kabul, was established on June 25, 2004, and received a commercial banking license from Da Afghanistan Bank in December 2004.
According to Iran Watch website, Arian Bank is an Afghan-based joint venture between Iran’s Bank Melli and Bank Saderat.
DAB spokesman Aimal Ashoor said the Arian Bank’s license was canceled by the bank due to “money laundering” and because the bank “could not operate better and did not follow the Afghanistan banking policies”.
The bank was primarily engaged in commercial banking services in Afghanistan.
