Erdogan does not respond to US sanctions against Iran, crisis increases

“We have trade and energy relations with Iran, we have not violated sanctions [for Iran], regardless of the decision, we have done the right thing: we have never taken action against the US [on our energy ties with Iran],” Erdogan declared himself before the deputies of the Justice and Development Party at a closed-door meeting.

“Bota is not just for the United States. We also have trade and energy relations with Iran”, he said.

The meeting came amid a court case in which Hakan Attila, former senior public lender “Halkbank”, was the only defendant charged with bypassing US sanctions against Iran through the Zarrab-led gas scheme, a Turkish-Iranian businessman.

He began co-operating with US prosecutors, and on November 29th he began to testify to the way he avoided sanctions and corrupted senior Turkish government officials.

There are concerns that “Halkbank” could face a serious fine as a result of the court case. However, the Turkish government has singled out the trial as a “theatre” aimed at the credibility of Turkey and President Erdogan.

“Turkey will overcome this challenge”

AKP spokesman Mahir Unal also suggested that Zarrab was held as a <x0-venging” in the US and was forced to testify against Turkey and the Turkish government./Periscopi/