On September 16, 2026, the United States Congress passed a comprehensive bill titled "Russia and Iran Sanctions Act" with a vote of 262 to 159. This bill has been sent to President Donald Trump and, according to its supporters, will exert more pressure on Moscow and countries that assist in financing its war in Ukraine.
Sanction Impacts of the Bill
The bill, named after the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, has been approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate of the United States, and Trump is expected to sign it after review. This bill includes sanctions against Russian officials, financial institutions, and the energy sector of the country. Additionally, it authorizes the U.S. President to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on major buyers of Russian oil and gas and countries that help Moscow evade sanctions.
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Opponents and Supporters of the Bill
The path to passing this bill in the House of Representatives faced opposition from Democrats, primarily regarding the additional tariff powers granted to Trump. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries from New York, while supporting pressure on Russia, could not endorse what he described as new and broad tariff powers. However, 58 Democrats voted in favor of the bill, indicating continued support from many lawmakers for increasing economic costs on Russia.
Senator Richard Blumenthal from Connecticut, one of the authors of the bill, warned the Kremlin after its passage, saying, "We have your number." He cautioned China and India that continued purchases of Russian oil and gas could expose them to new U.S. sanctions.
This bill also extends U.S. sanctions against Iran and continues targeted sanctions on its energy and weapons sectors for another five years. Senator Katie Britt from Alabama, a key supporter of this bill, emphasized that it should also hold Iran accountable for 47 years of terrorism.
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