Ambassador Barak clarifies that US sanctions on Turkish entities target specific behavior and not Türkiye as a country

Ambassador Barak stressed the need to put the US Treasury Department’s decision issued on September 4, 2026 into its correct context, after classifying one financial institution based in Turkey and two of its subsidiaries for their role in transferring funds for the benefit of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

Barak said in a statement on the “X” platform that the relationship between the United States and the Republic of Turkey is much greater than any single institution or any single day, noting that the Treasury Department and its Turkish counterparts were in direct and continuous communication throughout this process.

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Washington imposes sanctions on 3 Turkish entities for their links to Iran

He explained that this measure represents a major country's commitment to the integrity of the international financial system, and that the maximum pressure campaign imposed by Washington on the Iranian regime depends on blocking the channels that Tehran uses to launder the proceeds of its activities, one after another.

He stressed that the classification targets the behavior of a specific entity and not a state, a banking sector, or an ally, describing the measure as a precise application of the law aimed at protecting the structure on which fair trade is based everywhere.

The ambassador believed that it was wrong to interpret this limited measure as targeting Turkey, stressing that Ankara's own interest lies in the existence of a clean and reliable banking system that is out of the reach of those who seek to misuse it. He said that the health of the Turkish financial system is not in question, but rather the behavior of one institution is what raised the problem.

Barak appreciated the response and action of the Turkish authorities as a sovereign partner, noting that Ankara has begun to clarify the circumstances surrounding this issue and begin a process that will enhance transparency in the future. He considered that this behavior reflects the maturity of a partner determined to keep its institutions organized and transparent, and that cooperation of this kind strengthens the alliance more than any guarantee given under pressure.

The ambassador concluded his statement by saying that old allies do not measure their friendship by the absence of difficulties, and that the real test lies in confronting difficult issues frankly and resolving them with dignity. He expressed his confidence that this measure would ultimately be seen as evidence of the strength of the partnership, not pressure on it, noting that the American measure was taken after long deliberations, and that the Turkish response came with an appropriate and timely investigation, and that the shared commitment to transparency leaves the two countries and the alliance between them stronger than before.