Turkish authorities have withdrawn the operating licence of Iran's Bank Mellat in Istanbul, according to Al Jazeera. The Iranian lender has faced years of Western sanctions over alleged links to Tehran's nuclear programme.
Key facts
- Turkiye has revoked the operating licence of Iran's Bank Mellat in Istanbul.
- Bank Mellat is an Iranian lender.
- The bank has faced years of Western sanctions.
- The sanctions relate to alleged ties to Tehran's nuclear programme.
- The development was reported by Al Jazeera on September 19, 2026.
Turkiye has revoked the operating licence of Iran’s Bank Mellat in Istanbul, according to a report by Al Jazeera published on September 19, 2026. The move ends the Iranian lender’s authorised presence in the city.
Bank Mellat is an Iranian financial institution that has been the subject of Western sanctions for years. According to Al Jazeera, those sanctions stem from alleged ties between the bank and Tehran’s nuclear programme.
The revocation of the licence marks a significant step by Turkish authorities affecting the operations of the Iranian bank within Turkiye. The report identifies Istanbul as the location of the affected operations.
Al Jazeera’s report frames the development in the context of the lender’s long-running exposure to Western sanctions, which have targeted the institution over the alleged nuclear-related connections.
Beyond the licence revocation and the bank’s sanctions history, further details on the scope, timing and reasoning behind the decision were not provided in the available source.
Why it matters
The decision affects an Iranian bank operating in a major regional financial hub and touches on the broader issue of Western sanctions tied to Iran's nuclear programme. Actions like this can signal shifts in how countries manage financial links with sanctioned Iranian institutions.
Frequently asked questions
What is Bank Mellat?
Bank Mellat is an Iranian lender that, according to Al Jazeera, has faced years of Western sanctions over alleged ties to Tehran's nuclear programme.
What did Turkiye do?
According to Al Jazeera, Turkiye revoked the operating licence of Bank Mellat in Istanbul.
Why has Bank Mellat been sanctioned?
Al Jazeera reports that the bank has faced years of Western sanctions over alleged ties to Tehran's nuclear programme.