On Friday, the United States Senate passed the 2026 Lindsey O. Graham Sanctions Act targeting Russia and Iran with a vote of 86-11, concluding over 18 months of negotiations between Republican and Democratic lawmakers on how to intensify economic pressure on Moscow and Tehran.
The 61-page legislation was renamed in honor of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina, a leading advocate for the bill, who passed away in July at the age of 71 due to an aortic dissection.
Graham's passing rallied bipartisan backing and expedited the approval of a law that had been stalled since its introduction in April 2025. The legislation empowers the U.S. government to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the top five importers of Russian crude oil, the leading buyers of Russian natural gas, and countries aiding in the evasion of current energy sanctions. As the largest importer of Russian energy, China would be the most affected by these measures.
The law also includes primary and secondary sanctions against Russian officials, oligarchs, banks, and financial institutions, as well as the so-called "shadow fleet" that Moscow uses to circumvent existing restrictions.
The inclusion of Iran in the bill was a late addition, requested by President Donald Trump to prevent the expiration of existing sanctions against Tehran by the end of this year. The new measure extends these restrictions on Iran's energy and arms sectors until 2031.
Prior to the final vote, the Senate rejected an amendment by Republican Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky, which aimed to remove the executive's authority to levy tariffs on purchasers of Russian energy, by a vote of 32-64. Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock from Georgia also raised similar concerns but withdrew his own amendment after securing a written commitment from U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to establish safeguards, which Warnock called "a small yet significant victory for all Americans who have suffered under this president's reckless tariffs."
Senate Majority Leader John Thune from South Dakota defended the necessity of the legislation, stating, "As long as [Vladimir] Putin has money from Russian oil and gas, he can continue this war. And what this sanctions bill would do is basically cut that off."
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal from Connecticut, a leading Democratic sponsor, recalled Graham's final words to him about the imminent approval: "This is a big damn deal. We got it right. President Zelensky is watching from Ukraine. President Putin is watching from Moscow."
The agreement on the final text was announced on July 28 by Senator Darline Graham from South Carolina, Lindsey Graham's sister and designated successor, alongside a bipartisan group that included Senators Blumenthal, Katie Britt, Jeanne Shaheen, Roger Wicker, and Jim Risch.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who attended Graham's funeral in Washington, met with most senators and personally advocated for the bill's passage.
The bill now moves to the House of Representatives, where its future remains uncertain. Lawmakers are currently on their August recess and will not resume work until the end of the month, leaving the fate of the legislation in limbo until then.
Key Questions About US Sanctions on Russia and Iran
What are the main objectives of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctions Act?
The primary goals of the act are to increase economic pressure on Russia and Iran by imposing significant tariffs and sanctions to curb their energy export revenues and restrict their capabilities in key sectors.
How does the legislation affect China's import of Russian energy?
As the largest importer of Russian energy, China could face substantial tariffs of up to 100% on its imports, making it the most vulnerable country to these new sanctions.
Why was Iran included in the sanctions bill?
Iran was added to the bill at the request of President Donald Trump to extend existing sanctions on its energy and arms sectors, preventing their expiration by the end of the year and extending them until 2031.