Reuters

Istanbul 

Halkbank’s dealings with sanctions-hit Iran are entirely lawful, the Turkish state-run lender said yesterday after its chief executive was arrested in a corruption probe denounced by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan as a foreign plot.

Halkbank’s Iranian business ties had drawn Western disapproval amid US-led efforts to curb Tehran’s disputed nuclear programme. Erdogan described the police crackdown on the bank and a wider investigation last week as a foreign-engineered “dirty operation” against him.

Turkey has bought natural gas and oil from Iran through an indirect system whereby Iranian exporters received payment in Halkbank lira accounts and used that money to buy gold. The bulk of that gold was then been shipped from Turkey to Dubai, where Iran could import it or sell it for foreign currency.

In a filing with the Istanbul stock exchange, Halkbank said it had complied with the law in its business with Iran.

“There was no domestic or international rule or ban that prevented the sale of precious metals to Iran up until July 1, 2013,” the bank said in a statement, adding that it had stopped such transactions as of June 10.

Halkbank had also been processing a portion of India’s payments for Iranian oil.

“The source of the funds used in these transactions and the parties to this trade are open, transparent and traceable in the system,” it said in the statement.

Halkbank chief executive Suleyman Aslan and the sons of two cabinet ministers are in custody in connection with the corruption inquiry. Erdogan responded by sacking or reassigning some 70 police officers, including the head of Istanbul’s force.

The scandal has fuelled anti-government protests and shaken the strong Turkish economy that helped keep Erdogan in power.