Iran Sanctions Kick In.
The US
reapplied sanctions on Iran that had previously been lifted under the 2015 multi-country nuclear deal. The US pulled out of the deal - which lifted sanctions on Iran's central bank and oil exports in exchange for the near elimination of the country's medium and low-enriched uranium stockpiles - back in May. The sanctions, which kicked back in last night at midnight, primarily affect the country's financial and energy sectors. Iran will be prohibited from conducting business
in US dollars, the primary currency for international transactions. The administration has laid out
hefty demands for lifting the sanctions again, which include ending all missile development, freeing American prisoners, and ending support for groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Another round of sanctions is expected in November.
Forget what the Iran nuclear deal was all about? Check out
this refresher.
Ohio Special Election.
Ohio voters
go to the polls today to decide a tight special election race to fill the vacated congressional seat representing the state's 12th district. The seat, representing the northern Columbus suburbs, became open after nine-term representative Pat Tiberi (R)
abruptly stepped down last October. The race pits two local politicians in 31-year-old county official Danny O'Connor (D) and 56-year-old state senator Troy Balderson (R). Balderson has aligned with President Trump,
who campaigned for Balderson in Ohio over the weekend. The race is the latest to be viewed as a bellwether for the upcoming midterm elections - Trump won the district by 11 points in 2016 but recent polling has the race
in a dead heat.
As a special election, whoever wins will only fill the seat until the November election, when they will likely face off again.
Saudi Arabia-Canada Tiff.
Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador to Canada, and expelled the Canadian ambassador, after Canada publicly criticized the Saudi's human rights record. The move came after the Canadian foreign minister, Chrystia Freeland, called for the release of a women's rights activist as well as a blogger who was imprisoned for criticizing the country's religious establishment. Saudi Arabia also called for a freeze to all new trade and business deals with Canada, although it is unclear whether it will affect the two countries current $4B in annual trade. The move was a bit of a surprise - complaints about human rights in Saudi Arabia are nothing new and up-and-coming leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
has positioned himself as an outward-looking reformer.
The announcement came along with a poorly-designed graphic from a Saudi organization
seemingly implying a 9/11-style attack on Canada.