Iran–United States relations

The US State Department rejected Turkey's claims that the two sides are discussing the formation of a joint working group to discuss the issue of sanctions that Washington imposed on Ankara over its purchase of a Russian air defense system.

The US announced sanctions earlier this month to penalize Turkey over its procurement of Russia’s S-400 system under a US law known as CAATSA

Turkey and the United States have formed a joint working group to discuss sanctions that Washington imposed on its ally over its purchase of an advanced Russian air defense system, Turkey's foreign minister said Wednesday.

The International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA) welcomed the imposition of sanctions against Turkey over its purchase of Russian ground-to-air defenses, as part of the  Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

The sanctions targeted the top Turkish defense development body, its president and three employees.

American sanctions on Turkey's top defense procurement and development body Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) for purchasing Russian defense systems will not affect "current, valid, non-exhausted licenses and authorizations," the US State Department has said.

Turkey will not turn back on its purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems and will take reciprocal steps after evaluating US sanctions imposed over the acquisition, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday.

The U.S.' unilateral sanctions attack the sovereign rights of Turkey and other countries, the Turkish foreign minister said on Dec. 17. 

In an interview with Turkish news broadcaster 24 TV, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said relations between the two countries could normalize if the U.S. meets Turkey's expectations.

New U.S. sanctions will leave most of Turkey unaffected, including the National Defense Ministry, Turkish Armed Forces, and defense companies, the head of the Turkey's Defense Industries Presidency (SSB) said on Dec.17. 

President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that US sanctions imposed on Turkey over its purchase of Russian defense systems were an attack on Ankara's sovereign rights aimed at deterring its defense industry, a move which he said was bound to fail.

President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that US sanctions imposed on Turkey over its purchase of Russian defense systems were an attack on Ankara's sovereign rights aimed at deterring its defense industry, a move which he said was bound to fail.