Congress Sends Sweeping Russia-Iran Sanctions Bill to Trump
On September 16, the U.S. Congress approved a broad sanctions package aimed at Russia and Iran and sent it to President Donald Trump, with the House passing the measure 262-159 after a prior 86-11 Senate vote. The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, named for the late senator, expands U.S. sanctions authorities and grants the president new tariff powers targeting major purchasers of Russian energy and countries that help Moscow evade sanctions.
Why It Matters
The bill creates new tools intended to reduce revenue Moscow can use to sustain its war in Ukraine and prolongs U.S. penalties on Iran, marking the first major bipartisan congressional action in support of Ukraine since April 2024. Its novel tariff authorities also sparked intraparty divisions and raise questions about how U.S. allies and partners could be affected when the administration implements the measures.
Key Facts
- Date passed by House: September 16, 2026
- House vote: 262-159 (203 Republicans, 58 Democrats, 1 independent for; 7 Republicans and 152 Democrats opposed)
- Senate vote: 86-11 (passed last month)
- Bill name: Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026
- Named for: Late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (died July 2026)
Congress advanced a comprehensive sanctions package targeting Russian and Iranian interests when the House approved the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 on September 16 and sent it to President Donald Trump. The measure had cleared the Senate the previous month by an 86-11 margin and is expected to be signed by the president. Supporters say it will step up pressure on Moscow and on countries that help finance Russia's war in Ukraine.
The legislation increases U.S. sanctions reach across multiple sectors, naming Russian officials, financial institutions, the energy sector and the country's so-called shadow fleet of tankers as targets. It also grants the president authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on major purchasers of Russian oil and gas and on countries that aid Moscow in evading sanctions. The bill extends U.S. sanctions on Iran as well, renewing the Iran Sanctions Act for five years and maintaining penalties on Iran’s energy and weapons sectors.
The House vote exposed divisions within the Democratic caucus centered on the new presidential tariff powers. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Representative Gregory Meeks said they support pressure on Russia but opposed broad new tariff authorities, arguing existing sanction tools are substantial and that the bill should have required stronger administration accountability. Nevertheless, 58 Democrats joined 203 Republicans and one independent to pass the bill; seven Republicans and 152 Democrats opposed it.
Supporters framed the legislation as a bipartisan effort to curtail Moscow’s revenue streams. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democratic co-author, warned nations such as China and India that purchases of Russian energy could expose them to the new measures, while Senator Jeanne Shaheen said the package sends a clear bipartisan message to Vladimir Putin. Backers also emphasized the bill as the culmination of a campaign led by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, who worked across the aisle to build support, and several lawmakers said attention now turns to how the Trump administration will deploy the new authorities.
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