Halkbank, a Turkish state-owned bank, is seeking immunity from prosecution in the United States in connection with a case involving violations of Iran sanctions. The bank is urging the US government to grant it immunity as it faces charges related to allegedly helping Iran evade sanctions imposed by the US.
The case against Halkbank stems from accusations that the bank engaged in a scheme to transfer billions of dollars on behalf of Iran, in violation of US sanctions. The bank's former deputy general manager was convicted in the US in 2018 for his role in the scheme, which involved disguising transactions to appear as if they were for food and medicine.
Halkbank has denied any wrongdoing and has argued that it should be immune from prosecution due to its status as a state-owned entity. The bank claims that it was not subject to US jurisdiction and that it was acting in accordance with Turkish and international law.
The US Department of Justice has been pursuing the case against Halkbank, seeking to hold the bank accountable for its alleged violations of Iran sanctions. The bank's request for immunity comes as it continues to face legal challenges in the US related to the case.
It remains to be seen how the US government will respond to Halkbank's request for immunity. The case highlights the complexities of international banking regulations and the challenges of enforcing sanctions against countries like Iran.
