US Lifts Sanctions on Top Turkish Officials as Tensions Ease

Turkey's Minister of Justice Abdulhamit Gul attends the opening of the Council of Europe's conference on reform of the European Human Rights Convention System, in Copenhagen, Denmark, on April 12, 2018. Scanpix Denmark/Bax Lindhardt/via Reuters

WASHINGTON—The United States lifted sanctions on Nov. 2, on two top officials in Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s cabinet, a sign of improved relations after Turkey freed an American pastor from detention three weeks ago.

The United States had imposed sanctions on Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul and Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu in August to protest the case of Andrew Brunson, an American Christian pastor who had been detained by Turkey for two years.