Trump signs Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, targeting major oil and gas purchasers
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US President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping sanctions bill, the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, targeting Russia's economy by punishing major purchasers of its oil and gas. The bill, passed by the US House of Representatives, gives Trump broad powers to levy tariffs of up to 100% on the top five purchasers of Russian oil and gas, most significantly China and India. It also extends to Iran's energy and weapons sectors. The bill is named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch advocate for Ukraine who died on 11 July. It includes exceptions for countries importing less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and working to lessen dependency. Additionally, the bill sanctions Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior Russian government figures, banks, financial institutions, and Russia's 'shadow fleet' of tankers. Senator Richard Blumenthal described the legislation as 'scorching sanctions' that would 'throttle Putin's war machine'. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Trump for signing the 'critically important legislation', urging full and swift implementation to honor Graham's memory.
Source report
Image caption: US President Donald Trump signed the bill on Friday
By Bernd Debusmann Jr White House reporter
US President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping sanctions bill, taking aim at Russia's economy by punishing major purchasers of its oil and gas.
The bill, passed by the US House of Representatives earlier this week, grants Trump broad authority to levy tariffs of up to 100% on the top five purchasers of Russian oil and gas — most significantly China and India.
At Trump's behest, the legislation also extends to Iran's energy and weapons sectors.
Key Provisions
- The bill is named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, one of Ukraine's staunchest defenders in Washington before his death on 11 July.
- Formally titled the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, the 48-page bill includes exceptions for countries that import less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and are actively working to reduce their dependency.
- The legislation imposes sanctions against:
- Russian President Vladimir Putin
- Senior figures within the Russian government
- Banks and other financial institutions
- Russia's "shadow fleet" of tankers used to circumvent existing sanctions
Reactions and Context
Senator Richard Blumenthal, a New York Democrat, previously described the legislation as "scorching sanctions" that would "throttle Putin's war machine."
Data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) shows that between December 2022 and August 2026:
- China accounted for 50% of Russian crude exports
- India followed at 37%
- Turkey and the European Union each accounted for 5%, though Russian energy exports to the EU have been declining
Senator Graham had long pushed the Trump administration to do more to punish Russia for the war that followed its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Ukrainian Support
The bill received the backing of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who thanked Trump for signing the "critically important legislation."
"The best way to honour Lindsey's memory will be to implement the provisions of this law fully and swiftly," Zelensky wrote on social media. "Senator Graham never doubted for a second that America has enough strength to stand up to dictators and achieve results if it acts the right way."
Senator Lindsey Graham's Legacy
Graham, 71, died on 11 July of an "aortic dissection" caused by cardiovascular disease, shortly after returning from a trip to Kyiv.
"He died doing the work he was born to do," Trump said at the time.
Prior to his death, Graham was widely regarded as one of Ukraine's fiercest allies on Capitol Hill, at a time when Republicans were bitterly divided over the extent of US involvement abroad and the amount of aid being given to Ukraine.
Related Topics
- War in Ukraine
- Russia
- Donald Trump
- Economic sanctions
- Vladimir Putin
- United States
Source
BBC NewsWestern
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Trump signs sweeping Russia sanctions law targeting oil and gas purchasers