Fight over Iran's access to dollars takes partisan turn

Congressional Republicans appear to be hurtling toward a showdown over Iran's access to the US dollar with little or no support from Democrats, potentially dooming their legislative efforts to block further concessions to Tehran.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, R-Calif., on April 19 unilaterally introduced legislation that would prohibit the Obama administration from allowing the US dollar to be used to facilitate trade transactions. Royce has so far failed to secure the endorsement of his Democratic colleague, Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., even as the Republican leadership's blessing suggests a House vote could come soon.