Turkey revokes Istanbul operating licence of Iran’s Mellat Bank
Turkey’s banking regulator revoked the Istanbul branch’s operating licence, ending the Iranian lender’s ability to operate there. The decision came amid intensified US financial pressure on Tehran, but its direct connection to recent US sanctions remains unclear.
By DoomRadar · Published on DoomRadar . Updated .
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Countries named in the cited reporting. Highlighting does not show the area affected. Map: Natural Earth.
How the effects could reach youConditional effects
What happened
Turkey’s BDDK banking regulator revoked the operating licence of Iranian lender Mellat Bank’s Istanbul branch through a notice published in the Official Gazette. [1][2][4]
References for this detail (3)
- Turkey revokes operating licence of Iran's Mellat Bank amid US economic pressure on Tehranthenationalnews.com · Recorded source date: Sep 19, 2026, 7:31 AM UTC
- En medio de la presión financiera de EEUU a Teherán, Turquía revocó la licencia del banco iraní Mellatinfobae.com · Recorded source date: Sep 19, 2026, 12:31 PM UTC
- Turkiye revokes license of Iranian bankomanobserver.om · Recorded source date: Sep 19, 2026, 11:16 AM UTC
The notice cited a Turkish banking-law provision concerning risks to depositors’ rights or the banking system; it did not mention US measures or operational problems. [1]
References for this detail (1)
- Turkey revokes operating licence of Iran's Mellat Bank amid US economic pressure on Tehranthenationalnews.com · Recorded source date: Sep 19, 2026, 7:31 AM UTC
Mellat Bank’s Istanbul branch had operated in Turkey for more than 40 years, according to an Italian-language account. [3]
References for this detail (1)
- La Turchia chiude la banca iraniana Mellat dopo 40 anni: revocata la licenza alla filiale di Istanbulnotiziegeopolitiche.net · Recorded source date: Sep 19, 2026, 11:17 AM UTC
The decision followed US sanctions imposed on Turkish investment bank Golden Global Bank and two subsidiaries over alleged links to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard; Golden Global Bank denied the accusations. [2][3]
References for this detail (2)
- En medio de la presión financiera de EEUU a Teherán, Turquía revocó la licencia del banco iraní Mellatinfobae.com · Recorded source date: Sep 19, 2026, 12:31 PM UTC
- La Turchia chiude la banca iraniana Mellat dopo 40 anni: revocata la licenza alla filiale di Istanbulnotiziegeopolitiche.net · Recorded source date: Sep 19, 2026, 11:17 AM UTC
Context from the sources
Mellat Bank has faced Western sanctions for years, while sanctions relief followed the 2015 nuclear agreement before the United States withdrew from that agreement in 2018, according to the cited accounts. [2][3]
Explore the sources and reporting timeline
4 source links · 4 domains
These counts describe the references, not independent confirmations. Different outlets can repeat the same original report.
Source timeline
Oldest to newest among the available source dates, not a chronology of the incident. Article publication dates come from the source; other recorded dates may reflect when a link was found.
- [1] Turkey revokes operating licence of Iran's Mellat Bank amid US economic pressure on Tehranthenationalnews.comReferenced for: detail 1, detail 2
- [4] Turkiye revokes license of Iranian bankomanobserver.omReferenced for: detail 1
- [3] La Turchia chiude la banca iraniana Mellat dopo 40 anni: revocata la licenza alla filiale di Istanbulnotiziegeopolitiche.netReferenced for: detail 3, detail 4
- [2] En medio de la presión financiera de EEUU a Teherán, Turquía revocó la licencia del banco iraní Mellatinfobae.comReferenced for: detail 1, detail 4
What this could mean for you
Some cross-border payments involving Iran and Turkey could become harder to process.
Removing the branch eliminates one banking channel for transactions and account services.
Reported basis: [1][3] · The possible effect is interpretation.
Depends on: No replacement arrangements are provided for affected customers and businesses.
Businesses using the branch could face delays or additional administrative costs for payments and banking services.
They may have to shift accounts or transactions to other institutions after the licence revocation.
Reported basis: [1][3] · The possible effect is interpretation.
Depends on: The branch’s closure affects their existing arrangements.
Possible consequences, not a forecast. Their relevance depends on your location and the conditions above.
For your country
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What changes the outlook
Risk increases if…
Turkey or other jurisdictions revoke additional Iranian-bank licences or restrict replacement payment channels.
The authorities impose new measures that directly disrupt customers’ access to Mellat accounts.
Pressure eases if…
Authorities provide an orderly transfer or winding-down process for affected accounts.
Other banks continue offering compliant channels for legitimate Turkey-Iran transactions.
Still unclear
The notice does not explain whether the licence revocation is connected to recent US sanctions.
The sources do not specify when the branch must cease operations or how customers’ accounts will be handled.
Market implications
Market impact
Sources (4)
References for the reported details. Separate links do not necessarily mean independent confirmation.
Available excerpt
Turkey's BDDK banking watchdog revoked the operating licence of Iranian lender Mellat Bank's branch in Istanbul, according to a notice published in the Official Gazette…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
Available excerpt
La medida del regulador bancario turco se produce días antes de una reunión prevista entre Erdogan y Trump en la ONU Turquía revocó la licencia…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
Available excerpt
L'autorità di vigilanza bancaria di Ankara ha ritirato la licenza alla filiale turca della Bank Mellat, presenza storica sul Bosforo, mentre gli Stati Uniti premono…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
First tracked by DoomRadar: . AI-assisted analysis · . Based on linked headlines and available excerpts. Methodology · Report an error.