The United States declared a snapback of UN sanctions on Iran that had been lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal, and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo threatened consequences (Al Jazeera) for UN members who do not cooperate. The administration is also expected to impose new sanctions (WSJ) and outline enforcement mechanisms and penalties for violators today.
 
Parties to the 2015 deal rebuked the U.S. announcement. France, Germany, and the United Kingdom argued that the United States, which withdrew from the agreement in 2018, lacks authority (Guardian) to reimpose sanctions on Iran or sanction countries that disregard them. Meanwhile, Iran pledged a “decisive response” against the United States and promised to uphold the nuclear agreement if the remaining parties do the same.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died Friday, sparking a political battle (WSJ) over her empty seat just six weeks before the November election. Republicans are pushing to replace Ginsburg without delay, while Democrats say the process should begin after the election. President Donald J. Trump said he would nominate a woman to replace Ginsburg.

Chinese company ByteDance released a statement (Bloomberg) seemingly contradicting President Trump’s comments about its deal with American companies Oracle and Walmart, which it is negotiating to avoid a U.S. ban on mobile application TikTok. ByteDance said that it will retain control of the newly created TikTok Global and that it could pay $5 billion in taxes to the U.S. government.
 
Thailand: Thousands of people rallied in Bangkok over the weekend in Thailand’s largest protest since 2014. Protesters called for reforms (NYT), including to the status of the country’s monarchy. Criticizing Thailand’s monarchy is illegal.

The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of opposition parties, called for Prime Minister Imran Khan to resign and announced an anti-government campaign (Dawn). Its concerns include (DW) the army’s role in politics and the need for a new accountability law.
 
India: The Taj Mahal reopened today after a six-month shutdown, its longest ever (BBC), due to the pandemic. Fewer than three hundred people purchased tickets (Mint), despite health precautions at the monument. Meanwhile, coronavirus cases continue to surge in India.

Bahrain foiled an Iran-backed scheme (AP) to attack diplomats and foreigners in the country, according to Bahraini media and Saudi state television. Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said the plot occurred (National) earlier this year. The country often says it has disrupted Iran-backed plots.

The attorney general’s office filed charges (Nation) against twenty-four people, including a prominent opposition figure, for terrorism and other crimes. The charges stem from violence in Addis Ababa and the Oromia region that killed hundreds in July.
 
Ivory Coast: Opposition parties and former President Henri Konan Bedie, who is seeking reelection to his previous post, urged civil disobedience (Al Jazeera) over President Alassane Ouattara’s campaign for a third term, which the opposition says would be unconstitutional.

Tens of thousands of people rallied across Belarus as it entered a seventh week (FT) of protests following its disputed presidential election. In Minsk, security forces beat and detained protesters. European Union foreign ministers will meet today about the bloc’s response.
 
CFR’s Stephen Sestanovich discusses the Belarus protests on The President’s Inbox podcast.
 
Italy: Voting began yesterday on a referendum that could see Italy slash the size of parliament (Euronews, AP) by more than one-third beginning in 2023. Elections are also underway for one thousand mayors and seven regional governors. Voting, which ends today, was delayed by the pandemic.
 
This CFR Backgrounder looks at how countries are holding elections during the pandemic.

Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said he would support anyone who can defeat President Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil’s 2022 election. Lula, who has criticized the Bolsonaro government’s pandemic response, cannot run (MercoPress) due to corruption convictions.
 
Mexico: Authorities in the states of Tabasco and Veracruz confiscated a ship (AP), arrested twenty-one crew members, and closed a warehouse apparently being used to hold stolen fuel. Mexico’s government has campaigned against fuel theft.