Turkish Prime Minister: We Hope Reza Zarrab Returns from the Wrong Path

While Reza Zarrab, the Iranian-Turkish businessman, claims that Recep Tayyip Erdoğan personally authorized the circumvention of U.S. sanctions against Iran, the Turkish Prime Minister expressed hope that he would return from the 'wrong' path. Reuters reported on Friday, December 1, that Binali Yıldırım, the Turkish Prime Minister, made this statement at a public event in Istanbul. Yıldırım added that Zarrab's case has taken on a 'political' nature and that its 'judicial process has been halted,' with the aim of 'isolating Turkey and its economy.' On Thursday, Zarrab accused Erdoğan in a New York court of having 'personally authorized the circumvention of U.S. sanctions against Iran.' He had previously accepted seven charges, including conspiracy, violation of U.S. sanctions, bank fraud, money laundering, and bribery of a prison guard for alcohol and phone access in prison, and stated that he is cooperating with U.S. authorities on the charges. U.S. prosecutors have accused Zarrab, born in Iran, of helping the Iranian government and institutions move hundreds of millions of dollars in assets to circumvent sanctions between 2010 and 2015. For the first time on Thursday, Zarrab mentioned 'Ziraat Bank' and 'VakıfBank' in Turkey, stating that they played a role in circumventing Iran's sanctions. On the same day, the third court session for Mehmet Hakan Atilla, the director of Halkbank in Turkey, was held on charges of violating U.S. sanctions. While Atilla has denied his charges, Zarrab stated that he had been cooperating with him. U.S. prosecutors say Zarrab and Atilla transferred Iran's oil and gas revenues through money laundering, which violates U.S. sanctions. During Zarrab and Atilla's activities to circumvent Iran's sanctions, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was the Prime Minister of Turkey. Erdoğan stated on Thursday to CNN Türk that his country did the right thing and did not violate the sanctions. In the case of violating Iran's sanctions, nine individuals have been charged by U.S. prosecutors, of whom only 34-year-old Reza Zarrab and 47-year-old Mehmet Hakan Atilla have been detained by U.S. authorities. Zarrab's trial in Turkey is being closely monitored. Erdoğan has previously called for Zarrab's extradition multiple times. The Turkish Deputy Prime Minister recently stated that Zarrab is being held as a 'hostage' in the U.S. to testify against the Turkish government.