"Erdogan surrendered to Trump": Iran outraged by Turkey's decision

Turkey revoked the license of Iran's Bank Mellat, which had operated in the country for 44 years. The decision was made amid US pressure on Tehran's financial ties and sparked a sharp reaction in Iran.

Turkey revoked the license of the Turkish branch of Iran's Bank Mellat, which had operated in the country for 44 years. The decision was made on September 18, 2026, by Turkey's Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) and published the following day. Officially, the decision cites Article 71 of the Banking Law, which allows license revocation if the bank's activities threaten depositor rights or financial system stability. Specific inspection results are not disclosed, and US sanctions are not mentioned in the document. However, Reuters views the move in the context of the Trump administration's pressure campaign aimed at economically isolating Iran. Earlier, the US imposed sanctions on a Turkish investment bank, accusing it of servicing Iran's financial network. It was also reported that Turkey and Oman halted flights of Iran's Mahan Air. Iranian commentator Mohammad Marandi, linked to the authorities, accused Erdogan of acting on direct orders from Trump and Bessent, without providing evidence. No official reaction from Iran or Bank Mellat has been received yet.