ANKARA, Turkey — President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey on Friday criticized the United States over the indictment of a former Turkish economy minister who was accused of helping Iran evade United States sanctions, depicting the charges as a political move against his country.

Speaking to reporters before departing for a visit to Kazakhstan, Mr. Erdogan also criticized a separate indictment against Turkish security officials accused of attacking demonstrators during his visit to Washington in the spring.

He said the handling of the episode demonstrated the “weakness” of the United States government. “I assess the step taken against our former economy minister as a step against the Turkish Republic,” Mr. Erdogan said.

This week’s indictment of the former minister, Zafer Caglayan, has heightened already tense relations between Turkey and the United States. The case is part of a widening American investigation over Iran’s efforts to evade sanctions and involves a Turkish-Iranian gold trader and Turkish officials.