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Halkbank shares were 8.5% higher at 5.59 lira at 0727 GMT.
"The Bank plans to file a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court,"
Halkbank said in a statement to the Istanbul stock exchange.
"The proceedings in the District Court will be stayed until the
process at the Supreme Court is completed," it said.
The U.S. Department of Justice had opposed a delay, saying
Halkbank's "meritless" claims neither raised "substantial"
questions nor overcame the public interest in a speedy trial.
Halkbank has pleaded not guilty to bank fraud, money laundering
and conspiracy over its alleged use of money servicers and front
companies in Iran, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates to evade
sanctions.
Its alleged misconduct includes helping Iran secretly transfer
$20 billion of restricted funds, including $1 billion laundered
through the U.S. financial system, and converting oil revenue
into gold and then cash to benefit Iranian interests.
In an Oct. 22 decision, the 2nd Circuit said Halkbank could be
prosecuted because its alleged misconduct involved commercial
activity that was not covered by sovereign immunity.
Halkbank said that decision conflicted with Supreme Court
precedents as it "greenlights the first criminal trial of a
foreign sovereign in the nation's history."
It also said it would suffer irreparable harm if forced to
defend against "a case from which it is immune."
The Supreme Court denies most appeals. In its last term it
received 5,307 filings and heard arguments in 72 cases.
(Reporting by Berna Suleymanoglu; Writing by Daren Butler;
Editing by Jonathan Spicer)
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