Halkbank Gets US Supreme Court Hearing on Criminal Immunity

The US Supreme Court agreed to use a case involving Turkey’s Halkbank to consider immunizing companies owned by foreign governments from criminal prosecution.

The justices said Monday they will hear an appeal by the state-owned Halkbank, which is seeking dismissal of charges that it helped Iran evade economic sanctions by laundering $20 billion in oil and gas revenues.

Halkbank argues that under the US Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, the federal government can’t prosecute other nations or the companies they own.

The Biden administration, which urged the Supreme Court to reject the appeal, contends the FSIA provides immunity only from civil ...