• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

After 40 investors rejected Jeff Bezos’ Amazon pitch, his parents offered $245,573 of their retirement savings

2

'Skills nobody can take': Meet a 20-year-old with a 4.5 GPA who skipped college for technical school to land an 'AI-proof' career

3

China suffers another setback in effort to de-dollarize global finance as anchor in the greenback's dominance quietly exits Beijing's payment scheme

1

After 40 investors rejected Jeff Bezos’ Amazon pitch, his parents offered $245,573 of their retirement savings

2

'Skills nobody can take': Meet a 20-year-old with a 4.5 GPA who skipped college for technical school to land an 'AI-proof' career

3

China suffers another setback in effort to de-dollarize global finance as anchor in the greenback's dominance quietly exits Beijing's payment scheme

U.S. Is Considering Giving Iran Limited Access to the Dollar

By
Claire Groden
Claire Groden
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Claire Groden
Claire Groden
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 1, 2016, 2:12 PM ET
Treasury Secretary Lew Speech On Economic Sanctions
Photo by Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg via Getty Images
Google source logo
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Iran might soon have limited access to the American dollar.

The U.S. Treasury is preparing to issue licenses that would allow offshore financial institutions to conduct trade with U.S. currency in support of Iranian business dealings, according to The Wall Street Journal and Associated Press. The controversial move would come in response to complaints from Iran that the loosened sanctions in the wake of last year’s deal have done little to boost the country’s long-suffocated economy.

The new move wouldn’t normalize banking relations between the United States and Iran—Iran would still be locked out of the American financial system—but it would ease Iran’s attempts to do business with the West.

In a statement to Fortune, Treasury spokesperson Betsy Bourassa said, “The Wall Street Journal story is inaccurate. The administration has not been and is not planning to grant Iran access to the U.S. financial system.”

Congress won’t need to approve of the Treasury action, but it’s still receiving plenty of blowback from politicians, especially those who disapproved of last year’s Iran deal. House Speaker Paul Ryan issued a statement Thursday criticizing President Obama for “going out of its way to help Tehran reopen for business” when he says Iran hasn’t held up its side of the bargain.

This post has been updated with comment from the Treasury Department.

About the Author
By Claire Groden
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in International


Most Popular

Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

    Latest in International


    Most Popular

    © 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
    FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.