US charges against Turkish ex-minister 'political'

Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag on Thursday said U.S. charges against a Turkish former minister for violating U.S.-Iran sanctions were "politically motivated", Anadolu Agency reports.

Speaking at Anadolu Agency's Editor's Desk in Ankara, Bozdag described the move as an attempt by Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) members to take revenge for last year's defeated coup attempt.

FETO is using the U.S. justice system against Turkey, Bozdag said, adding that the Turkish government had warned the U.S. authorities about this issue.

An indictment was announced on Sept. 6 in New York, charging Zafer Caglayan and three other Turkish nationals for violating U.S. sanctions against Iran.