bob daktari said:
dunno bout the sanctions (an incentive to go live but maybe not all the motivation) - as I do believe they've had this on the cards prior to axis of evil days
Well US sanctions have been in place since the Tehran embassy bizness, and it is well commentated on that instituions (particularly in low risk climate these days) were acceding to US pressure and stopping US dollar transactions with Iran.
But yes, it also has the effect of removing the oil-forced support of the US dollar - and if euro oil becomes a big thing, that will knock out that implicit support for the dollar...