The Daily Beast reports that the ongoing corruption scandal in Turkey now includes massive sanctions breaches of the restrictions imposed on Tehran. Arrested were an Iranian businessman for allegedly bribing the Turkish Economic Minister while facilitating $120 billion of transactions with Tehran, as well as the CEO of Turkish Halkbank, who was discovered hiding $4 million in hard currency in shoeboxes in his house.
So, what did they do? Apparently, they converted the proceeds of Iranian oil and natural gas sales to gold, which was then shipping to Iran through Dubai. Estimates of the amounts involved are in the billions of US dollars.
And, apparently, it's not completely news on Capitol Hill – 47 legislators called on the Secretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury to sanction Halkbank.
To quote the Vice President, it's a big deal. Will it scuttle the emerging nuclear enrichment deal with Iran? Personally, Mr. Watchlist doubts it – denying Tehran nuclear weapons is too important – but he doesn't overestimate the stupidity of US lawmakers, either.
Stay tuned and read all the gory details in the meantime… as well as a statement by Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister for Economic and Financial Affairs rejecting the EU and US sanctions on Iran
Link:
Turkey and Iran Accused of Oil-for-Cash Sanctions Scheme (The Daily Beast)
Turkey Rejects US, EU Unilateral Iran Sanctions (PressTV.ir)
Posted with BlogsyFiled under: Iranian Sanctions, Sanctions News
