RFE/RL reports the U.S. has arrested Iranian-Turkish gold trader Reza Zarrab, who was at the heart of the 2013 corruption scandal in Turkey that engulfed close associates of Erdogan. The U.S. has charged Zarrab with helping the Iranian government and businesses get around sanctions. In Turkey, Zarrab was accused of bribing Turkish ministers with millions of dollars in cash to help facilitate gold trade with Iran. Erdogan defended Zarrab and went after thousands of government workers and officers who conducted the corruption probe. The announcement of Zarrab’s arrest comes a week before Erdogan is scheduled to visit the U.S.