The U.S. Justice Department is moving to drop its criminal case against Halkbank over alleged Iran sanctions violations after a deferred prosecution agreement, adding a new procedural element to a case that has been closely watched for its implications beyond the bank itself. The development underscores the legal and practical challenges of pursuing cross-border sanctions cases, may carry implications for U.S.-Turkey relations, and raises questions about the precedent such an outcome could set for future enforcement actions involving international financial institutions.