Reza Zarrab

Reza Zarrab was born in Tabriz, Iran, to Iranian Azerbaijani parents,{{cite news | url=http://iranwire.com/fa/projects/4057 | title=حاشیه‌های بازداشت تاجر ایرانی در ترکیه؛ از بابک زنجانی تا مشایی

| date=2013-12-18 | agency=Iran Wire | access-date=2013-12-18}} and grew up in Azerbaijan and Turkey. Reza Zarrab became a dual citizen of Turkey and Azerbaijan after settling in Istanbul.{{cite news | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2013/12/131218_l10_reza_zarrab_turkey.shtml | title=ایرانی بازداشت شده در ترکیه 'در مورد دور زدن تحریم‌ها بازجویی شده بود'| date=2013-12-18 | agency=BBC Persian | access-date=2013-12-18}} Zarrab's parents remained in Baku through 2010–11; in 2013 they were granted Turkish citizenship reportedly through facilitation of then Interior Minister Muammer Güler.{{cite news|url=http://www.todayszaman.com/national_zarrabs-father-given-citizenship-via-exceptional-status_369768.html |title=Zarrab's father given citizenship via 'exceptional status' |date=2015-01-14 |agency=Zaman Daily News |access-date=2016-03-22 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305082033/http://www.todayszaman.com/national_zarrabs-father-given-citizenship-via-exceptional-status_369768.html |archive-date=2016-03-05 }}

On 1 June 2007 Zarrab received an "exceptional citizenship" and became a Turkish citizen with the decision given by the Turkish Council of Ministers. He was accused of bribing $1.5 million to receive Turkish Citizenship in the indictment.{{cite web|url=http://www.milliyet.com.tr/gundem/5-milyon-dolara-turk-vatandasi-oldular-1809571 |title=5 milyon dolara Türk vatandaşı oldular – Son Dakika Haberler|website=milliyet.com.tr|access-date=3 November 2017}}

In 2008, Zarrab married Turkish pop star, Ebru Gündeş and they had a child in 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.iha.com.tr/haber-reza-zarrab-kimdir-reza-zarrabin-hayati-ebru-gundesin-esi-reza-zarrab-317902/|title=Reza Zarrab kimdir? Reza Zarrab'ın hayatı. Ebru Gündeş'in eşi Reza Zarrab|website=iha.com.tr |language=tr |access-date=3 November 2017}} He started his business life in Turkey in 2008 with the company named Royal Maritime A.S. He founded Royal Holding with his brother Mohammed Zarrab (Can Sarraf) in 2010.{{cite web |url=http://royalholding.com.tr/index.php?royalholding=hakkimizda |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417194410/http://www.royalholding.com.tr:80/index.php?royalholding=hakkimizda |archive-date=2015-04-17 |title=HAKKIMIZDA |website=royalholding.com.tr |language=tr }}

{{main|2013 corruption scandal in Turkey}}

Before the 2013 corruption scandal in Turkey, there were already signs of Zarrab engaging in bribing Turkish officials. For instance, Zarrab's chauffeur, Turgut Happani, was arrested by the Turkish Customs Protection agency during his trip to Russia from Turkey in 2011 for carrying $150 million in cash and was accused of conducting illegal money couriering, but he was then released by Turkish authorities.{{cite web|url=http://www.milliyet.com.tr/cadde/gundes-in-esinin-soforu-kacakciliktan-gozaltinda-1377987 |date=2011-04-15 |language=tr |title=Gündeş'in eşinin şoförü kaçakçılıktan gözaltında |website=milliyet.com.tr |access-date=3 November 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://www.haberturk.com/yasam/haber/620972-soforunde-150-milyon-dolar |title=Şoföründe 150 milyon dolar!|website=Habertürk |first=Uğur |last=Soysal |date=15 April 2011 |language=tr |access-date=3 November 2017}} Happani sped his own pictures on Facebook with suitcases full of money.{{cite web|url=http://www.radikal.com.tr/turkiye/operasyonu-baslatan-fotograf-facebookta-balya-balya-dolar-1166808/ |date=18 December 2013 |title=Operasyonu başlatan fotoğraf: Facebook'ta balya balya dolar! – Türkiye Haberleri – Radikal|last=Radikal |language=tr |website=radikal.com.tr|access-date=3 November 2017}} Moreover, in 2007, he was given Turkish citizenship for a sum of $1.5 million.

In April 2013, the Turkish National Intelligence Agency (MIT) urged then Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan about Zarrab's corrupted relations with the Turkish cabinet members.{{cite web |url=http://birgun.net/haber/mitten-erdogana-sarraf-raporu-12357.html |title=MİT'ten Erdoğan'a Sarraf raporu – BirGün.net – Halkın Gazetesi BirGün|date=19 March 2014|access-date=3 November 2017|url-status=dead |language=tr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319222958/http://birgun.net/haber/mitten-erdogana-sarraf-raporu-12357.html |archive-date=19 March 2014}} on 17 December 2013. Zarrab, who has a business affiliation with the Iranian billionaire and business magnate Babak Zanjani, was detained in Istanbul due to his involvement with the sons of three ministers (Erdoğan Bayraktar, Muammer Güler and Zafer Çağlayan) in the Turkish government and Egemen Bağış, the former minister for EU Affairs and Turkey's chief negotiator in accession talks with the European Union,{{cite news |url=http://www.radikal.com.tr/turkiye/uc_bakana_rusvet_suclamasi-1166735 |title=Üç bakana rüşvet suçlaması |date=2013-12-18 |work=Radikal |access-date=2013-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219021159/http://www.radikal.com.tr/turkiye/uc_bakana_rusvet_suclamasi-1166735 |archive-date=2013-12-19 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=http://t24.com.tr/haber/yolsuzluk-ve-rusvet-sorusturmasinda-egemen-bagis-goruntuleri-de-cikti/246398 |title=Yolsuzluk ve rüşvet soruşturmasında Egemen Bağış görüntüleri de çıktı! |date=2013-12-19 |agency=T24 |language=tr |access-date=2013-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220012430/http://t24.com.tr/haber/yolsuzluk-ve-rusvet-sorusturmasinda-egemen-bagis-goruntuleri-de-cikti/246398 |archive-date=2013-12-20 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/05/world/middleeast/to-this-tycoon-iran-sanctions-are-like-gold.html |title=To This Tycoon, Iran Sanctions Were Like Gold|date=2013-10-05 |work=The New York Times|access-date=2013-10-05}} in an alleged bribery, corruption and smuggling racket.{{cite web|url=https://fotogaleri.haberler.com/istanbul-da-yolsuzluk-ve-rusvet-operasyonu/ |title=İstanbul'da yolsuzluk ve rüşvet operasyonu |work=haberler.com |date=2013-12-17 |language=tr |access-date=2014-03-23}} The court ordered his arrest on 21 December along with Barış Güler, son of Muammer Güler, and Kaan Çağlayan, son of Zafer Çağlayan.{{cite web|url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/2-bakan-oglu-ile-reza-zarrab-tutuklandi-25412674 |title=2 Bakan oğlu ile Reza Zarrab tutuklandı |work=Hurriyet Daily News |date=2013-12-21 |language=tr |access-date=2014-03-23}} He was released on 28 February 2014.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26387522 |title=Turkey frees cabinet ministers' sons |work=BBC News |date= 28 February 2014|access-date=2014-08-17}}

The investigation in Turkey revealed a system to help Iran bypass US sanctions against the country concerning the SWIFT payment system, in a scheme based on Turkish public bank Halkbank, whereby money was transferred to front companies in China and Turkey, and gold bought with that money transferred to Iran via Dubai.

Then Interior Minister Muammer Güler's son, Barış Güler, then Economy Minister Zafer Çaglayan's son, Kaan Çaglayan, and General Director of Halk Bank, Suleyman Arslan, were among the suspects including Reza Zarrab. They were arrested due to accusations of "bribery, professional misconduct, bid rigging, and smuggling".{{cite web|url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/ekonomi/uc-bakanin-oglu-gozaltinda-25378920 |language=tr |title=Üç bakanın oğlu gözaltında |website=Hurriyet Daily News |date=2013-12-17 |access-date=3 November 2017}}

Erdogan backlashed and announced the investigation as a "judicial coup" against his government, and dismissed the prosecutors and police officials investigating the corruption scheme. After a 70-day detainment, Zarrab and the sons of cabinet members were released from jail.{{cite web|url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/reza-zarrab-ve-bakan-cocuklari-tahliye-edildi-25912625 |title=Reza Zarrab ve Bakan çocukları tahliye edildi |website=Hurriyet Daily News |date=2014-02-28 |access-date=3 November 2017}} Erdogan received harsh criticism for obstructing and undermining justice and putting the judiciary under his executive authority. However, Erdogan announced that "justice has been served".{{cite web|url=http://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/siyaset/46077/Erdogan__Adalet_yerini_buldu.html |title=Erdoğan: Adalet yerini buldu |website=Cumhuriyet |date=28 February 2014 |access-date=3 November 2017}}

Egemen Bağış, then Minister of European Union Affairs, was dismissed after the corruption investigation. The Ministers of Interior Affairs, Economic Relations, and Environment and Urbanization – Muammer Güler, Zafer Çaglayan, and Erdoğan Bayraktar, respectively – had to resign from their positions.{{cite web|date=2014-12-16 |url=https://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler/2014/12/141212_17_25_aralik_operasyonu_neler_oldu_10_soruda|title=10 soruda: 17–25 Aralık operasyonları |first=Mahmut|last=Hamsici |publisher=BBC Türkçe |language=tr |access-date=3 November 2017}} The indictment charged high-ranked officials with significant accusations for receiving bribes: Zafer Caglayan received $52 million worth of bribes; Muammer Guler received $10 million worth of bribes; and Egemen Bağış received $1.5 million worth of bribes.{{cite web |url=http://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/turkiye/29997/Bagis__Caglayan_ve_Guler_kac_TL_rusvet_almakla_suclaniyor_.html |title=Bağış, Çağlayan ve Güler kaç TL rüşvet almakla suçlanıyor? |website=Cumhuriyet |date=2014-01-16 |language=tr |access-date=3 November 2017}} The summary of proceedings were sent to the Turkish parliament for the vote on whether to lift ministers' immunity and send them to court. However, given the strong majority of Erdoğan's ruling party (AKP), in January 2015 the parliament did not lift their immunity and swept away the significant investigation.{{cite web |url=http://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/turkiye/191219/AKP_li_vekiller_4_eski_bakan_icin_vicdanlarini_sifirladilar.html|title=AKP'li vekiller 4 eski bakan için vicdanlarını sıfırladılar |date=2015-01-20 |website=Cumhuriyet |language=tr |access-date=3 November 2017 }}

In May 2014, Erdoğan announced that he initiated a "witch-hunt" against the Gülen movement for, as he alleged, being behind the corruption investigation.{{cite web|url=https://t24.com.tr/haber/erdogan-cadi-aviysa-biz-bu-cadi-avini-yapacagiz-bunu-da-bilin,258112 |date=2014-05-11 |title=Erdoğan: Cadı avıysa, biz bu cadı avını yapacağız, bunu da bilin! – Gündem – T24 |website=t24.com.tr |language=tr |access-date=3 November 2017}} Two months after this announcement, the government arrested and detained police officials who conducted the corruption investigation. The prosecutors of the corruption investigation were also dismissed from their positions.{{cite web|url=https://www.haberturk.com/gundem/haber/1273102-17-25-aralikin-fetocu-polislerine-operasyon |date=2016-07-28 |title=17–25 Aralık'ın FETÖ'cü polislerine operasyon – Gündem Haberleri|website=Habertürk |language=tr |access-date=3 November 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.mynet.com/1725-aralik-savcilarina-ihrac-110101835160 |title=1725 Aralık savcılarına ihraç|last=Aljazeera|website=mynet.com |language=tr |date=2015-05-12 |access-date=3 November 2017}}

In June 2015, Zarrab received the Turkish Export Award jointly from the hands of Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş, Minister of Economy Nihat Zeybekçi, and President of the Turkish Exporters Council Mehmet Büyükekşi, in a ceremony attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.{{cite web|url=http://www.mashreghnews.ir/fa/news/432684/%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D8%B1%DA%A9%DB%8C%D9%87-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%B1%D8%B6%D8%A7-%D8%B6%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%AC%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B2%D9%87-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%B9%DA%A9%D8%B3 |title=دولت ترکیه به رضا ضراب جایزه داد +عکس|publisher=Mashregh |date= 23 June 2015|access-date=2015-06-23}}{{cite news |title=Reza Zarrab'a ihracat ödülü |trans-title=Export award for Reza Zarrab |url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/ekonomi/reza-zarraba-ihracat-odulu-29344202 |newspaper=Hürriyet |date=22 June 2015 |access-date=23 March 2016}}

While Erdoğan alleged that Zarrab conducted trade and business in aligned with Turkish interests, there have been several reports that suggest Zarrab's illegal activities extensively harmed the Turkish economy.{{cite web |url=https://washingtonhatti.com/2017/09/13/zarrab-caglayan-gercekten-ulke-cikarina-mi-calisti-ust-duzey-yoneticiden-perde-arkasi/ |archive-date=2017-09-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914052706/https://washingtonhatti.com/2017/09/13/zarrab-caglayan-gercekten-ulke-cikarina-mi-calisti-ust-duzey-yoneticiden-perde-arkasi/ |date=2017-09-13 |language=tr |access-date=25 August 2023 |title=Zarrab & Çağlayan gerçekten ülke çıkarına mı çalıştı?}}

On 19 March 2016, Zarrab was arrested in Miami, Florida, for conspiring to evade U.S. sanctions against Iran (by using his gold business to help Iran's government evade the sanctions), money laundering and bank fraud. He was later indicted by a grand jury with charges that could bring up to 75 years in prison.{{cite press release |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/turkish-national-arrested-conspiring-evade-us-sanctions-against-iran-money-laundering-and |title=Turkish National Arrested for Conspiring to Evade U.S. Sanctions Against Iran, Money Laundering and Bank Fraud – OPA – Department of Justice |date=3 April 2016|access-date=3 November 2017|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403002020/https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/turkish-national-arrested-conspiring-evade-us-sanctions-against-iran-money-laundering-and|archive-date=3 April 2016}}{{cite news |first=Nate |last=Raymond |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-iran-zarrab/u-s-arrests-turkish-businessman-for-scheme-to-evade-iran-sanctions-idUSKCN0WN295 |title=U.S. arrests Turkish businessman accused of evading Iran sanctions|date=21 March 2016|publisher=Reuters|access-date=3 November 2017}} The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, led by Preet Bharara, with assistance from a trial attorney of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

During the case, prosecutors have noted that Zarrab donated $4.5 million to a charity founded by Emine Erdoğan, the wife of former prime minister and now president of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Prosecutors stated that Zarrab has "close ties" to Erdoğan.{{cite news|title=US prosecutors say businessman with 'close ties' to Turkey's Erdogan poses flight risk|url=https://www.dw.com/en/us-prosecutors-say-businessman-with-close-ties-to-turkeys-erdogan-poses-flight-risk/a-19283437 |work=Deutsche Welle|date=26 May 2016|access-date=2016-11-06}}

After Zarrab's arrest, shares in Halkbank, whose CEO was among those charged with taking bribes from Zarrab, had fallen by 20%. He has offered to pay $50 million to be granted a bail. Bail has been denied. In their brief against granting bail, prosecutors had argued that "if the defendant were able to reach Turkish soil, he could cause the highest levels of Turkish government to block his return to the United States."

In April 2017, media reported that negotiations involving the U.S. and Turkish governments were undergoing, to the effect that Zarrab would be extradited to Turkey while in return "Turkey would be much less resistant to the US’s missions in Syria, and primarily its support to the Democratic Union Party (PYD)."{{cite news|title=Rudy Giuliani, the jailed Turkish gold trader and the secret meeting with Erdogan |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/us/rudy-giuliani-the-jailed-turkish-gold-trader-and-the-secret-meeting-with-erdogan-1.3056527 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=21 April 2017 |access-date=11 October 2019 }}

One of the most striking arguments in the indictment about Zarrab was that the Zarrab family sent a letter addressed to the president of Iran's Central Bank and stated that he was ready for "Economic Jihad" against sanctions on Iran.{{cite web|url=https://www.occrp.org/en/azerbaijanilaundromat/notorious-laundromats-used-in-irans-anti-sanction-economic-jihad |title=Notorious Laundromats Used in Iran's Anti-Sanction 'Economic Jihad' – OCCRP|first1=Paul |last1=Radu |first2=Khadija|last2=Ismayilova |date=2017-10-02 |website=occrp.org|access-date=3 November 2017}}

Erdoğan's first comment on Zarrab's arrest by the United States government was: "it was not a case that interests Turkey".{{cite web|url=https://www.ntv.com.tr/turkiye/cumhurbaskani-erdogandan-riza-sarraf-aciklamasi,FGvKyWPapEWAqp0sNaMv4g |title=Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan'dan Rıza Sarraf açıklaması – NTV |website=www.ntv.com.tr |date=2016-03-29 |language=tr |access-date=3 November 2017}} However, it is claimed that Erdoğan, on 21 September 2016 during a special meeting with then Vice President Joe Biden, requested Zarrab's release from jail and prosecutor Bharara to be dismissed from his position. Also, it is claimed that Erdogan's wife, Emine Erdogan, made a similar request to Biden's wife, Jill Biden. Furthermore, Bekir Bozdag, the Turkish Minister of Justice, visited the United States Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch in October 2016 and stated how the Zarrab case was unfounded and that Zarrab should be released{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2017/10/16/tl-preet-bharara-trukey-trump-jake-tapper.cnn |date=2017-10-16 |title=Bharara on whether Turkey pushed for his ouster – CNN Video|publisher=CNN|access-date=3 November 2017}}{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/the-man-at-the-crux-the-of-us-turkey-dispute-is-about-to-go-on-trial/2017/10/12/92c4c7a2-af96-11e7-be94-fabb0f1e9ffb_story.html |title=The man at the crux of the U.S.-Turkey dispute is about to go on trial |date=2017-10-12 |first=David |last=Ignatius |newspaper=The Washington Post }}

In February 2017, Erdoğan agreed to a secret meeting with Zarrab's attorneys, Rudy Giuliani and former Attorney General Michael Mukasey.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/20/nyregion/rudy-giuliani-reza-zarrab-iran-sanctions-case.html |first1=Benjamin |last1=Weiser |first2=Patrick |last2=Kingsley |date=20 April 2017 |title=Why Giuliani Held a Secret Meeting With Turkey's Leader|website=The New York Times |access-date=3 November 2017}}

Halkbank Deputy Chief Executive Mehmet Hakan Atilla, who was in connection with Zarrab, was arrested in the United States in March 2017 with the charges of "conspiring to evade US sanctions against Iran and other offenses".{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/turkish-banker-arrested-conspiring-evade-us-sanctions-against-iran-and-other-offenses|title=Turkish Banker Arrested For Conspiring To Evade U.S. Sanctions Against Iran And Other Offenses|website=www.justice.gov|access-date=3 November 2017|date=28 March 2017}} Afterwards, it was announced in September 2017 that the US charged then Turkish Minister of Economic Affairs Zafer Caglayan and former General Manager of Halk Bank Suleyman Aslan with offenses similar to Zarrab's.{{cite web |url=https://washingtonhatti.com/2017/03/29/m-hakan-atilla-iddianamesinde-halkbanka-cok-agir-suclamalar-cikti/|title=M.Hakan Atilla Yakalama Kararında Halkbank'a Çok Ağır Suçlamalar Çıktı - |date=2017-03-29 |website=washingtonhatti.com|access-date=3 November 2017}}{{cite press release |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/former-turkish-minister-economy-former-general-manager-turkish-government-owned-bank|title=Former Turkish Minister of the Economy, Former General Manager of Turkish Government-Owned Bank, And Two Other Individuals Charged With Conspiring To Evade U.S. Sanctions Against Iran And Other Offenses |website=www.justice.gov |access-date=3 November 2017 |date=6 September 2017}}

Erdoğan appeared to be involved in the allegations about the US investigation. It was claimed that Erdogan's effort to save Zarrab was the fear that the inquiry had reached him.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/14/world/europe/turkey-new-york-case.html|title=Why a New York Court Case Has Rattled Turkey's President|first1=Patrick|last1=Kingsley |first2=Benjamin|last2=Weiser|date=14 October 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=3 November 2017}} It is also alleged that Erdoğan wanted the US to release Zarrab in return for the detained US citizen pastor Andrew Brunson being held in a prison in Turkey.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/democracy-post/wp/2017/07/07/why-trump-should-not-swap-prisoners-with-erdogan/ |first1=Merve |last1=Tahiroglu |first2=Eric S. |last2=Edelman |date=7 July 2017 |title=Opinion – Why Trump should not swap prisoners with Erdogan|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=3 November 2017}}

Metin Topuz, a Turkish employee of the US Consulate General in Istanbul, was arrested on 4 October 2017 for espionage, being a member of crime network, and taking the evidences of the 2013 corruption investigation to the US. In the arrest warrant, it is emphasized that the main suspects of 17 December corruption investigation were "foreign intelligence agencies and countries."{{cite web|url=http://gazete.netgazete.com/gazeteler.php?id=20|title=Takvim Gazetesi|website=gazete.netgazete.com|access-date=3 November 2017}}

As a response to the arrest, the US Embassy in Turkey announced on 8 October 2017, that "visa applications from Turkey were suspended."{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberght.com/haberler/haber/2055744-abd-vizeleri-askiya-aldi |title=ABD Türkiye'den vize başvurularını askıya aldı – Bloomberg HT|website=bloomberght.com|access-date=3 November 2017|date=8 October 2017}}

On 16 November 2017, NBC News, reported that Zarrab is now cooperating with federal prosecutors in a money-laundering case and that he was then out of jail, a move President Erdoğan had been desperately hoping to avoid.{{Cite news |first1=Tom |last1=Winter |first2=Julia |last2=Ainsley |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/does-cooperating-witness-have-info-flynn-tie-turkey-n821341 |date=2017-11-16 |title=Does cooperating witness have info on Flynn tie to Turkey?|publisher=NBC News|access-date=2017-11-17|language=en}} It is thought that Zarrab is Robert Mueller's key to taking down Michael T. Flynn in the 2017 Special Counsel investigation.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/did-the-feds-flip-turkish-businessman-reza-zarraband-could-he-bring-down-michael-flynn|title=Did the Feds Flip Turkish Businessman Reza Zarrab—and Could He Bring Down Michael Flynn?|last=Zavadski|first=Katie |date=2017-11-16|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=2017-11-17}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/turkish-iranian-businessman-zarrab-gold-trade-erdogan-ties-iran-sanctions-case-reported-cooperating-us-prosecutors/28859053.html |date=2017-11-17 |title=Man Accused in U.S. Iran Sanctions Case Reported Working With Prosecutors|publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|access-date=2017-11-17}}

In response to Zarrab's release from detention to another facility inside the United States, the Turkish government expressed concern as to the status of Zarrab.{{Cite news|url=https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/11/turkey-demands-info-reza-zarrab.html|title=Turkey demands news as Zarrab drops off radar|last=kjenson|date=2017-11-16|work=Al-Monitor|access-date=2017-11-17|language=en-us|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123005220/https://al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/11/turkey-demands-info-reza-zarrab.html|archive-date=2017-11-23}} Two weeks later, Zarrab reappeared in Manhattan court as a witness in the case against Atilla, having accepted a plea deal with federal prosecutors.{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/gold-trader-zarrab-will-be-star-witness-iran-sanction-busting-n824351 |first=Tracy |last=Connor |access-date=11 October 2019 |title=Gold trader Zarrab will be star witness in Iran sanction-busting trial|publisher=NBC News|date=28 November 2017}}

A day after Zarrab testified in US Federal District Court, the Turkish government seized the assets of his and his family, including his wife Ebru Gündeş.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/01/world/europe/erdogan-turkey-iran-sanctions.html |title=Turkey Seizes Assets of Reza Zarrab, Witness in Sanctions-Evasion Case |first=Benjamin |last=Weiser |date=1 December 2017 |website=The New York Times|access-date=4 December 2017}}

In October 2019, Bloomberg News claimed that President Donald Trump had in 2017 urged his then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to persuade the Department of Justice to drop its case against Zarrab.{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-09/trump-urged-top-aide-to-help-giuliani-client-facing-doj-charges |title=Trump Urged Top Aide to Help Giuliani Client Facing DOJ Charges |date=9 October 2019 |access-date=10 October 2019 |first1=Nick |last1=Wadhams |first2=Saleha |last2=Mohsin |first3=Stephanie |last3=Baker |first4=Jennifer |last4=Jacobs}} Access to articles about interviews his money courier Adem Karahan gave to Courthouse News Service,{{Cite web|last1=Klasfeld|first1=Adam|last2=Stocks|first2=Tom|last3=Castro|first3=Daniela|last4=Bloss|first4=Kelly|date=2020-09-20|title='The Government Is in on It': An Insider's Account of the Reza Zarrab Conspiracy|url=https://www.courthousenews.com/the-government-is-in-on-it-an-insiders-account-of-the-reza-zarrab-conspiracy-hold-for-sunday/|access-date=2020-09-23|language=en-US}} were banned in Turkey on 23 September 2020 by a court in Istanbul.{{Cite web|title=Rıza Sarraf'ın para transferini anlatan habere erişim engeli geldi|url=https://halktv.com.tr/riza-sarrafin-para-transferini-anlatan-habere-erisim-engeli-geldi-435159h|access-date=2020-09-23|website=Halk TV|language=tr}}

On April 22, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on him and his network of companies for facilitating the sale of Iranian liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in violation of U.S. sanctions. Zarrab, previously implicated in sanctions evasion schemes, is accused of using a complex network of front companies and intermediaries to export Iranian LPG, generating significant revenue for Iran's energy sector. The sanctions aim to disrupt these illicit financial networks and reinforce the U.S. commitment to enforcing sanctions against Iran's energy exports. As a result, all property and interests in property of the designated individuals and entities within U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.{{Cite news |date=2025 |title=Treasury Targets Iranian Liquified Petroleum Gas Magnate |url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0093}}

Zarrab married the Turkish singer Ebru Gündeş in 2010. They have one daughter together. Gündeş reportedly filed for divorce in September 2016,{{cite web|url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/kelebek/son-dakika-haberi-ebru-gundes-ile-reza-zarrab-bosaniyor-40230898 |title=Ebru Gündeş'ten 'boşanma' için ilk açıklama|language=tr|publisher=Hürriyet|date=25 September 2016|access-date=8 September 2017}} but the couple reconciled shortly afterwards.{{cite web|url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/bosanma-davasinda-surpriz-gelisme-40314705|title=Reza Zarrab ile Ebru Gündeş'in boşanma davasında sürpriz gelişme|language=tr|publisher=Hürriyet|date=4 August 2017|access-date=8 September 2017}} In April 2021, Gündeş again filed for divorce.{{cite web|url=https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/ebru-gundes-ile-reza-zarrabin-bosanma-davasina-yayin-yasagi-1828721|title=Ebru Gündeş ile Reza Zarrab'ın boşanma davasına yayın yasağı|work=Cumhuriyet|date=16 April 2021|access-date=20 April 2021}} Their divorce was finalized on 7 May 2021.{{cite web|url=http://www.gazetevatan.com/unlu-sarkici-ebru-gundes-ile-reza-zarrab-in-11-yillik-evliligi-re-1389411-magazin-galeri-haber/|title=Ünlü şarkıcı Ebru Gündeş ile Reza Zarrab'ın 11 yıllık evliliği resmen sona erdi|work=Vatan|date=7 May 2021|access-date=7 May 2021}}

• Babak Zanjani, Iranian businessman
• Shahram Jazayeri, Iranian businessman

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Category:Living people

Category:1983 births

Category:Gold investments

Category:21st-century Iranian businesspeople

Category:People from Tabriz

Category:Naturalized citizens of Turkey

Category:Turkish people of Iranian descent

Category:Turkish people of Azerbaijani descent

Category:Iranian people convicted of money laundering