Reza Zarrab's lawyers on Wednesday asked a federal court in the U.S. to dismiss the case against this Iranian-Turkish businessman. The 33-year-old Zarrab, who is in custody in the U.S., is accused of violating sanctions against Iran. He has close financial ties with Babak Zanjani and was arrested in Miami this March. Zarrab is accused of planning to circumvent Iran's sanctions, deceiving American banks, and laundering money by helping Iranian companies transfer funds through American institutions. According to AFP, Zarrab's defense lawyers stated that their client did not violate U.S. laws, as he is a non-American who lived outside the U.S. Ben Brafman, who previously represented Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former head of the International Monetary Fund, is one of Zarrab's lawyers. Paul Clement, one of Zarrab's lawyers, argued in court that Zarrab 'as a foreigner residing in Turkey has not violated U.S. criminal law... he is not within U.S. jurisdiction...'. Zarrab's lawyer further described this type of trial as 'unprecedented'. In contrast, Michael Lockard, an assistant U.S. attorney, stated that 'foreign citizens are not allowed to use U.S. financial institutions for the benefit of Iran.' According to AFP, Zarrab, wearing a blue prison outfit, appeared in a New York court with the help of a translator. Ben Brafman, another of Zarrab's lawyers, deemed his client's arrest in Miami illegal, claiming that customs police demanded Zarrab's phone password and a list of his bank account numbers before he could contact his lawyer. Zarrab's lawyer argued that the police's actions were intended to make his client incriminate himself. Zarrab, who is involved in gold, currency, shipbuilding, furniture, and real estate businesses, holds three passports: Iranian, Turkish, and Macedonian; none of these countries have extradition treaties with the U.S. Previously, Zarrab was detained for 70 days in Turkey in 2013 on corruption charges during Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's premiership. Erdoğan at the time described Zarrab's detention as a plot by Fethullah Gülen to undermine the government.
Reza Zarrab's Court Hearing Held in the U.S.
Reza Zarrab, an Iranian-Turkish businessman, is facing serious charges in a U.S. federal court for violating sanctions against Iran. His defense argues that he is not subject to U.S. law as a foreign national, while prosecutors maintain that foreign citizens cannot exploit U.S. financial institutions for Iran's benefit. This case is significant as it highlights the complexities of international law and U.S. sanctions.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Reza Zarrab's lawyers seek dismissal of U.S. sanctions violation case against him.
- Reza Zarrab's lawyers dismiss U.S. federal court case
- U.S. authorities arrest Reza Zarrab
- U.S. authorities accuse Reza Zarrab
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Zarrab's legal battle may impact Iran's ability to circumvent sanctions.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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