Florida Legislators Participate in 'Four-Day Special Session' Aimed at Toughening Sanctions Against the Islamic Republic

Florida lawmakers are heading to the U.S. Congress in Washington on Monday for a four-day special session aimed at calling for stricter sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The call for intensified sanctions comes from Ron DeSantis, the Governor of Florida and a candidate for the U.S. presidency. They also emphasize support for Israel following the surprise attack by the Palestinian group Hamas last month. Hamas is listed among the terrorist organizations by the U.S., the European Union, and Japan. Axios reports that lawmakers from both parties in the U.S. view DeSantis's legislative proposal to tighten sanctions as 'symbolic.' Axios adds that Florida has prohibited its state agencies and local governments from trading with companies linked to Iran since 2008. This special session begins ahead of the Republican presidential candidates' debate on Wednesday in Miami, providing DeSantis, who aims to be the final Republican nominee in the upcoming presidential election, an opportunity to bolster his credibility in foreign policy. According to Axios, his positions have previously come under scrutiny from some Republicans due to his criticism of U.S. aid to Ukraine in the Russia war. Live blog: G7 foreign ministers welcome ceasefire; all hostages to be released unconditionally. Netanyahu, the minister who proposed bombing Gaza with nuclear weapons, has been suspended from attending cabinet meetings. Blinken states that the ceasefire benefits Hamas. Protesters in Washington D.C. and London demand an immediate ceasefire.