Halkbank Avoids Prosecution: US Cites Turkiye's Role in Ceasefire and Captive Release
The US has decided to end the prosecution of Turkish bank Halkbank, citing Turkiye's diplomatic efforts in negotiating a ceasefire and securing the release of captives from Gaza.
Halkbank, a major Turkish bank, has avoided prosecution in the United States over alleged business dealings with Iran, with US prosecutors citing Turkiye's diplomatic role in negotiating a ceasefire and securing the release of captives from Gaza as contributing factors to the decision.
The move marks a significant shift in the long-running case against Halkbank, which was accused of participating in a multibillion-dollar scheme to evade US sanctions on Iran. The US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced that it would not pursue further charges against the bank, a decision that has been widely interpreted as a gesture of goodwill towards Turkiye.
According to the prosecutors, Turkiye's assistance in negotiating the ceasefire and securing the release of captives from Gaza played a key role in the decision to end the prosecution. This diplomatic effort, they argue, has contributed to regional stability and the broader US foreign policy goals in the Middle East.
{{IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER}}Source: Al Jazeera
