US Senate overwhelmingly passes Lindsey Graham sanctions bill targeting Russia, Iran

Published Aug 7, 07:21 PM UTC

The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 with an 86-11 bipartisan vote. The legislation, named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham who died in July 2026, would impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries that are top purchasers of Russian crude oil or gas, including China and India, aiming to cut off funding for Russia's war in Ukraine. It also targets Russian President Vladimir Putin, oligarchs, and financial institutions, and extends sanctions on Iran's weapons and energy sectors at President Trump's request. The bill now heads to the House, which is on recess until September. Some lawmakers, including Senator Mazie Hirono and Representatives Gregory Meeks and Don Beyer, expressed concerns about the broad tariff authority the measure would grant President Trump, arguing he already has legal power to impose such sanctions.