Halkbank Faces Court Talk Over Sanctions Break‑In

A meeting in a New York federal court is set for Tuesday. U. S. lawyers and Halkbank’s team will meet Judge Richard Berman in Manhattan. The talk could decide the next part of a long legal battle. The case began when U. S. prosecutors charged Halkbank in 2019. They say the bank helped Iran dodge American sanctions by moving money through other countries. The alleged moves included shifting $20 billion of restricted funds, turning oil money into gold and cash, and using fake food shipments to hide the transfers. Halkbank denies all accusations of fraud, money laundering and conspiracy.

In 2023 the Supreme Court paused the case but said it would review whether a old common‑law rule protects foreign banks. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals said no such protection exists. Now the bank asks the Supreme Court again. The dispute hurts U. S. –Turkey ties. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan called the charges “unlawful and ugly. ” The issue is separate from current Middle‑East tensions. The upcoming conference will show how the U. S. legal system tackles a foreign state‑owned bank’s alleged wrongdoing and what it means for international finance rules.

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