Iran shuns greenback deals

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Aurora

Iran shuns greenback deals

Post by Aurora »

http://www.ameinfo.com/136982.html
www.ameinfo.com - 04/11/07

An official at the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has revealed that 85% of the Islamic Republic's oil deals are now conducted in currencies other than the US dollar, reported the Tehran Times. The NIOC has requested that purchasers pay in alternative currencies so that Iran can reduce its 'dollar dependence'. The US is currently leading an aggressive economic boycott of Iran over its disputed nuclear policy.
GWB sure ain't gonna like this news. :shock:
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SunnyJim
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Post by SunnyJim »

He already knows!

Why do you think he's sharpening his warheads..?

Read this news from back in September.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6981375.stm
Jim

For every complex problem, there is a simple answer, and it's wrong.

"Heaven and earth are ruthless, and treat the myriad creatures as straw dogs" (Lao Tzu V.i).
MacG
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Post by MacG »

It does not matter one iota which currency is used for oil purchases, what matters is where the proceeds are parked after the deal. The pivotal issue is that the proceeds are to be parked in US treasury notes and bonds. As long as that happens, the currency used for an intermediate transaction is irrelevant.
Aurora

Post by Aurora »

SunnyJim wrote:He already knows!

Why do you think he's sharpening his warheads..?

Read this news from back in September.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6981375.stm
I appreciate that the Japanese had been paying in yen Jim, but I think it will come as a surprise to most people that 85% of the Iranian oil is now sold in currencies other than the dollar.
gug
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Post by gug »

MacG wrote:It does not matter one iota which currency is used for oil purchases, what matters is where the proceeds are parked after the deal. The pivotal issue is that the proceeds are to be parked in US treasury notes and bonds. As long as that happens, the currency used for an intermediate transaction is irrelevant.
Whilst I guess thats correct (you'll have to forgive any lack of understanding on this subject, i'm no expert) isnt it slightly irrelevant ?

If people no longer buy or use dollars for oil trading , dollars become worthless (well, worth-less than they were) and back they flood to the fed like the formerly "never to be cashed cheques" that they previously were ?

and why is it certain that the proceeds /would/ be parked in anything to do with the US treasury ?
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SunnyJim
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Post by SunnyJim »

Aurora wrote:
SunnyJim wrote:He already knows!

Why do you think he's sharpening his warheads..?

Read this news from back in September.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6981375.stm
I appreciate that the Japanese had been paying in yen Jim, but I think it will come as a surprise to most people that 85% of the Iranian oil is now sold in currencies other than the dollar.
Ah, sorry. Quite right. Yes, that is quite a chunk of revenue isn't it? More worrying for the US is the fact that the idea might catch on.

As far as the dollar goes this is bad for it. Countries hold US dollars not because they make sense financially (any more, obviously they did historically), but in order to buy oil. Many countries would like to and are reducing dollar holdings, and this will become more possible if they could buy oil in euro's or yen, or what ever currency the said country wishes to hold.
Jim

For every complex problem, there is a simple answer, and it's wrong.

"Heaven and earth are ruthless, and treat the myriad creatures as straw dogs" (Lao Tzu V.i).
brasso
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Post by brasso »

I'm afraid it matters quite a bit which currency is used to buy oil, and other commodities for that matter. The only point in holding currency in the first place is so you can spend it! If you have a country that buys alot of oil, then you would need to hold alot more dollars than you would normally, to pay your monthly oil bill. If it's suddenly available in euros, then you can hold euros or dollars - I know which one I'd choose. Add to this the fact that OPEC are due to consider selling oil in a basket of currencies, rather than dollars, and things will get very interesting...
Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground
Aurora

Post by Aurora »

Don't under-estimate how far the US administration will go to protect the petrodollar. I suggest having a read of the following book:

Image

DODGY TAX AVOIDERS link
Petrodollar Warfare: Oil, Iraq and the Future of the Dollar by William R. Clark

Meticulously researched, this book examines US dollar hegemony and the unsustainable macroeconomics of 'petrodollar recycling', pointing out that issues underlying the Iraq war also apply to geostrategic tensions between the US and other countries including the member states of the EU, Iran, Venezuela and Russia. The author warns that without changing course, the American Experiments will end the way all empires end -- with military over-tension and subsequent economic decline. He recommends the multilateral pursuit of both energy and monentary reforms within a United Nations framework to create a more balanced global energy and monetary system -- thereby reducing the possibility of future oil and oil-currency related warfare.
See also:
Petrodollar or Petroeuro? A new source of global conflict

http://www.feasta.org/documents/review2/nunan.htm
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Adam1
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Post by Adam1 »

gug wrote:
MacG wrote:It does not matter one iota which currency is used for oil purchases, what matters is where the proceeds are parked after the deal. The pivotal issue is that the proceeds are to be parked in US treasury notes and bonds. As long as that happens, the currency used for an intermediate transaction is irrelevant.
Whilst I guess thats correct (you'll have to forgive any lack of understanding on this subject, i'm no expert) isnt it slightly irrelevant ?

If people no longer buy or use dollars for oil trading , dollars become worthless (well, worth-less than they were) and back they flood to the fed like the formerly "never to be cashed cheques" that they previously were ?

and why is it certain that the proceeds /would/ be parked in anything to do with the US treasury ?
Isn't the point that, if oil consuming nations have to pay in US$, they have to keep reserves of the currency? Or can they not just nip down to the metaphorical bureau de change and change their euros, yen etc into dollars for the purchase.

Maybe it's just a question of risk. Yes, they can hold euros, say, and exchange them for US$ but then there's a risk of an unfavourable shift in exchange rates between when they bought the euros and when they have to make payment for the oil. For the oil importer, it's less risky to hold the money in the transaction currency.
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clv101
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Post by clv101 »

MacG wrote:It does not matter one iota which currency is used for oil purchases, what matters is where the proceeds are parked after the deal. The pivotal issue is that the proceeds are to be parked in US treasury notes and bonds. As long as that happens, the currency used for an intermediate transaction is irrelevant.
Yeah, the currency of transaction is irrelevant, what's relevant is demand for dollars. One way of generating demand for dollars is to carry own oil transactions in dollars, another way is to buy dollars (as you say) with the process of oil sale. I think it?s safe to assume that if Iran doesn't what to use dollars for oil transactions it isn't about to use the resulting Euro, Yen or Yuan to by dollars. So ? same impact, lower demand for the dollar.
MacG
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Post by MacG »

clv101 wrote:
MacG wrote:It does not matter one iota which currency is used for oil purchases, what matters is where the proceeds are parked after the deal. The pivotal issue is that the proceeds are to be parked in US treasury notes and bonds. As long as that happens, the currency used for an intermediate transaction is irrelevant.
Yeah, the currency of transaction is irrelevant, what's relevant is demand for dollars. One way of generating demand for dollars is to carry own oil transactions in dollars, another way is to buy dollars (as you say) with the process of oil sale. I think it?s safe to assume that if Iran doesn't what to use dollars for oil transactions it isn't about to use the resulting Euro, Yen or Yuan to by dollars. So ? same impact, lower demand for the dollar.
The important thing is the demand for US treasury notes. By prodding the Saudi's and others to buy US treasury notes, the petrodollars are recycled and can be used again. If the Persians or anyone else get payment for oil in dollars, they can change those dollars to Euro, Yen, Pounds or Renminbi or whatever they want in seconds. This thing about not accepting US dollars as payment is just a symbolic thing - the important issue is what they buy with the proceeds.
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Totally_Baffled
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Post by Totally_Baffled »

The important thing is the demand for US treasury notes. By prodding the Saudi's and others to buy US treasury notes, the petrodollars are recycled and can be used again. If the Persians or anyone else get payment for oil in dollars, they can change those dollars to Euro, Yen, Pounds or Renminbi or whatever they want in seconds. This thing about not accepting US dollars as payment is just a symbolic thing - the important issue is what they buy with the proceeds.
I agree.

After trawling through all Mr Bills posts on PO.com - it seems the quote above sums it nicely.

It doesnt matter the medium of exchange for oil - as long the oil producer invests that currency into dollar debt afterwards , they dont get invaded , [cough] ah...hem I mean every one is sort of happy :)
TB

Peak oil? ahhh smeg..... :(
Bozzio
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Post by Bozzio »

Looks like Iran is only selling in other currencies now.

Iran drops dollar from oil deals: report
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Erik
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Post by Erik »

Bozzio wrote:Looks like Iran is only selling in other currencies now.

Iran drops dollar from oil deals: report
Bozzio, well done for posting this in the right thread, rather than opening TWO more identical threads in both News AND General Discussion!! Seems that some people post more threads than they actually read. Grumble over. I've had a weird day.

Pippa: is there any way that Peter's two new threads can be blended into this one? I guess not. Pity, cos then we'd be able to say "Pippa picked a pair of Peter's pickled Powerswitch posts and put 'em together perfectly" or something. (I told you it was a weird day)
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