Iran said it will hold talks with Russia and China on Tuesday in an attempt to circumvent U.N. snapback sanctions as the deadline for a nuclear agreement looms. 

«We are in constant consultation with these two countries to prevent activation of the snapback or to mitigate its consequences,» Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said during a Monday press briefing, reported Iran International. «We have aligned positions and good relations.»

Both China and Russia are signatories of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), an agreement that seemingly failed to end Iran’s nuclear ambitions following the U.S. withdrawal from the deal under the first Trump presidency in 2018 and the subsequent nuclear advances Tehran made. 

IRAN VOWS RETALIATION IF UN SECURITY COUNCIL ISSUES SNAPBACK SANCTIONS ON ANNIVERSARY OF NUCLEAR DEAL

The news of the impending meeting comes one week after France, Germany and the U.K. announced they would enforce snapback sanctions on Tehran if it fails to enter into a new nuclear agreement by the end of August. 

What would need to be included in a new nuclear deal remains unclear and Iran has not yet renewed nuclear negotiations with the U.S. after Washington levied significant strikes against its top atomic facilities last month in coordination with Israel. 

The snapback mechanism was reserved under the JCPOA and allows any signatory of the agreement to recall stiff international sanctions on Iran to be enforced by all 15 members of the United Nations Security Council – including Russia and China – if Tehran is determined to have violated the terms of the 2015 deal. 

Since the first Trump presidency, the U.S. has threatened the use of snapback sanctions, though Washington can no longer call for the re-implementation of the economic tool as it left the agreement – a decision determined by the U.N. and the other JCPOA signatories. 

The Security Council meets at United Nations headquarters on June 13, 2025, in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

IRAN FACES AUGUST DEADLINE TO ACCEPT COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR DEAL OR FACE RENEWED UN SANCTIONS

But top D.C. officials, like Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have continued to encourage European allies to use this tool to push Iran to cease nuclear development. 

Iran is also set to hold talks with France, Germany and the U.K. – an alliance also known as the E3 – this Friday, though the window to secure a new nuclear deal is closing despite years of repeated attempts.

«Snapback at the UNSC remains, not just the Trump administration’s, but the international community’s most powerful political and diplomatic tool against the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear program,» Behnam Ben Taleblu, Iranian expert and senior director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Iran program, told Fox News Digital.

«Snapback and a restoration of older, tougher UNSC resolutions that contain arms export prohibitions, missile testing prohibitions, as well as a panel of experts to monitor sanctions compliance, will actually magnify the political and military dividends that the U.S. and Israeli strikes have given,» he added.

A banner depicting Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is placed next to a ballistic missile in Baharestan Square in Tehran, Iran, on Sept. 26, 2024. (Hossein Beris/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

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Security experts have been sounding the alarm for months that it will take roughly six weeks for U.N. sanctions to be enforced, largely due to procedural reasons, and the ability to enforce snapback sanctions under JCPOA terms will expire on Oct. 18.

Ben Taleblu also warned that these intense sanctions on Iran could instigate further security threats to the West when it comes to Tehran’s nuclear program, as it could prompt Iran to leave other major international nuclear agreements like the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

El ejército israelí lanzó este lunes una ofensiva terrestre en el centro de la Franja de Gaza, en coincidencia con el llamado conjunto de 25 países que pidieron poner fin a la guerra en el territorio palestino.

“La guerra en Gaza debe cesar inmediatamente”, escribieron en un comunicado los ministros de Relaciones Exteriores de 25 naciones, entre ellas el Reino Unido, España, Italia, Portugal, Canadá y Francia.

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Los ministros consideraron que “el sufrimiento de los civiles en Gaza ha alcanzado nuevos niveles” y denunciaron “el rechazo del gobierno israelí a proporcionar asistencia humanitaria esencial a la población civil”.

Israel lanza una nueva ofensiva en Gaza

La Defensa Civil de Gaza y testigos informaron de disparos de artillería en Deir al Balah, donde Israel anunció el lunes que ampliaría sus operaciones militares.

El ejército indicó que operaría incluso “en una zona donde nunca había intervenido antes” durante su guerra contra el movimiento islamista palestino Hamas. Además, pidió a los habitantes abandonar el lugar.

Según la Oficina de Coordinación de Asuntos Humanitarios de las Naciones Unidas (OCHA), entre 50.000 y 80.000 personas se encontraban en la zona.

Familias enteras comenzaron a desplazarse, cargando sus pertenencias o en carretas tiradas por burros hacia el sur. “Durante la noche escuchamos fuertes explosiones”, relató Abdalá Abu Slim, un habitante de 48 años.

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“Tememos que el ejército israelí prepare una operación terrestre en Deir al Balah y en los campamentos del centro de la Franja de Gaza, donde se hacinan cientos de miles de desplazados”, agregó.

Mai Elawawda, responsable de comunicación en Gaza para la ONG británica Medical Aid for Palestinians, calificó la situación como “extremadamente crítica”.

El llamado conjunto de 25 países para detener la guerra

En tanto, 25 países, entre ellos Reino Unido, España, Italia, Portugal, Canadá y Francia, pidieron poner fin “inmediatamente” a la guerra en la Franja de Gaza, en una declaración conjunta publicada el lunes.

“Nosotros (…) nos reunimos para enviar un mensaje simple y urgente: la guerra en Gaza debe cesar inmediatamente”, escribieron los ministros de Relaciones Exteriores de estos países, para quienes “el sufrimiento de los civiles en Gaza ha alcanzado nuevos niveles”.

Los cerca de dos millones de palestinos asediados por Israel en Gaza están al borde de la hambruna tras más de 21 meses de conflicto, desencadenado por un ataque sin precedentes del movimiento islamista palestino Hamás en territorio israelí el 7 de octubre de 2023.

“El modelo de distribución de ayuda establecido por el gobierno israelí es peligroso, alimenta la inestabilidad y priva a los gazatíes de su dignidad humana”, dijeron los firmantes, en referencia a la Fundación Humanitaria de Gaza (GHF), respaldada por Estados Unidos e Israel.

La GHF comenzó sus operaciones a finales de mayo, tras un bloqueo humanitario total de más de dos meses impuesto por Israel.

Leé también: Siria e Israel alcanzaron una tregua tras una semana de enfrentamientos sangrientos

“Es aterrador que más de 800 palestinos hayan sido asesinados mientras intentaban obtener ayuda”, escribieron también los ministros.

Los firmantes también exigen la liberación de los rehenes “cruelmente detenidos” por Hamas. Además, expresaron su firme oposición a cualquier iniciativa destinada a modificar el territorio o la demografía en los territorios palestinos ocupados, y piden el fin de la colonización en dichos territorios.

Los países firmantes son: Australia, Austria, Bélgica, Canadá, Dinamarca, Eslovenia, España, Estonia, Finlandia, Francia, Islandia, Irlanda, Italia, Japón, Letonia, Lituania, Luxemburgo, Países Bajos, Nueva Zelanda, Noruega, Polonia, Portugal, Suecia, Suiza y Reino Unido.

La declaración también fue firmada por la comisaria europea de Igualdad, Hadja Lahbib.

Israel rechazó la nota de los 25 países que pidieron detener la guerra

Poco después, Israel rechazó el documento. “Todas las declaraciones y afirmaciones deben dirigirse a la única parte responsable de la falta de un acuerdo para la liberación de rehenes y un alto el fuego: Hamas, que inició esta guerra y la está prolongando”, dijo en un comunicado el Ministerio de Exteriores israelí.

En el texto, Israel insistió en que “existe una propuesta concreta para un acuerdo de alto el fuego” -que no incluye el fin definitivo de la ofensiva ni la retirada de las tropas israelíes de Gaza-, la cual ha sido “repetidamente” aceptada por Israel, pero no por Hamas.

“En estos momentos tan delicados de las negociaciones en curso, es mejor evitar declaraciones de este tipo”, afirmó el comunicado.

(Con información de EFE y AFP)

One year ago on Monday, then-President Joe Biden stunned the political world by ending his campaign for re-election.

Biden’s exit from the 2024 White House race also rocked the Democratic Party, which went on to suffer setbacks on Election Day, as the party lost control of the presidency, the Senate and fell short in its bid to win back the House majority.

One year later, the Democratic Party is still reeling.

Just 28% of Americans view the party favorably, according to a CNN poll conducted July 10-13 and released last week. That’s the lowest mark for Democrats in the entire history of CNN polling, going back over 30 years.

BIDEN’S STUNNING EXIT, ONE YEAR LATER

The CNN poll is far from an outlier.

Just 19% of voters questioned in a Quinnipiac University national poll give Democrats in Congress a thumbs up on how they’re handling their duties, with 72% disapproving.

That’s an all-time low since Quinnipiac University first began asking congressional approval questions in their surveys 16 years ago.

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The Democratic Party has been in the political wilderness since November’s elections. Not only did the party lose power, but Republicans made gains among Black, Hispanic and younger voters, all traditional members of the Democratic Party’s base.

Then-Vice President Kamala Harris delivers her presidential nomination acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 22, 2024 in Chicago. (Fox News – Paul Steinhauser)

Since President Donald Trump‘s return to power earlier this year, an increasingly energized base of Democrats is urging party leaders to take a stronger stand in pushing back against the president’s sweeping and controversial second-term agenda. Their anger is directed not only at Republicans, but at Democrats they feel aren’t vocal enough in their opposition to Trump.

That has fueled a plunge in the Democratic Party’s favorable ratings, which have hit historic lows in several surveys this year.

The trend is reflected in the new Quinnipiac poll, which was conducted July 10-14.

Just 39% of Democrats approve of the way Democrats in Congress are handling their jobs, with 52% disapproving and 9% not offering an opinion.

«The approval numbers for Democrats can be characterized as flat out terrible,» Quinnipiac University polling analyst Tim Malloy said.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), left, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), the top two Democrats in Congress, speak at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on June 11, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch)

While the approval ratings for Republicans in Congress aren’t as «terrible» as the Democrats, they’re nothing to brag about.

Only a third of voters questioned in the poll said they approved of the way congressional Republicans were handling their duties, with 62% giving them a thumbs down.

However, just over three-quarters of Republicans (77%) said they approved of the way GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill were handling their jobs, with just one in five disapproving.

Additionally, in the CNN poll, while not as bad as the Democrats, the favorable rating for the Republican Party registered at a low 33%.

Meanwhile, Trump’s approval ratings in both polls remain underwater, at 40%-54% in the Quinnipiac survey and 44%-56% in the CNN survey.

Trump started his second tour of duty in the White House with approval ratings in positive territory, but his numbers quickly sank underwater in many polls. The president’s approval ratings were in negative territory in 13 of the 17 polls conducted so far this month.

President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Washington D.C. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The CNN survey has a silver lining for the Democrats.

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The poll indicates that Democrats are more energized than Republicans in voting in next year’s midterm elections, when the GOP will be defending its thin House and Senate majorities.

Seventy-two percent of Democrats and independents who lean toward the party said they are extremely motivated to vote next year, 22 points higher than the share of Republicans and GOP-aligned voters who said they were extremely motivated to vote.