US Senate advances Graham-backed Russia sanctions bill; House vote next

The U.S. Senate on Friday overwhelmingly passed a sweeping bill imposing new sanctions on Russia and Iran, advancing a long-delayed measure that could soon face a vote in the House of Representatives.

The “Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026” passed 86-11, with lawmakers seeking to intensify economic pressure on Moscow over its war in Ukraine. The legislation is named after the late South Carolina Republican senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent supporter of Ukraine who died last month.

The bill would authorise President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries that are major buyers of Russian oil and gas, including India, Japan and some European Union nations. It would also expand sanctions targeting Iran.

The legislation had been stalled for more than a year amid resistance from Trump and Senate Republican leaders. Graham had said shortly before his death on July 11 that he and Trump had agreed to move forward with the measure.

Ukraine’s embassy in Washington welcomed the Senate vote, describing it as a “timely and significant step” toward increasing pressure on Russia.

However, the bill faces uncertainty in the House, where some lawmakers and business groups have raised concerns over the broad tariff powers it would give Trump. Democrats Gregory Meeks and Don Beyer warned that the provisions could allow the president to impose sweeping tariffs that would increase costs for American importers and consumers.

Republican Senator Rand Paul was the only GOP senator to vote against the legislation, arguing that tariffs amount to taxes on U.S. consumers. The Senate also rejected an amendment by Paul and Democratic Senator Ron Wyden that sought to remove the tariff provisions.

If approved by the House and signed by Trump, the legislation would allow tariffs on countries that purchase large amounts of Russian energy or help Moscow evade sanctions. The measure limits the new tariff authority to the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or gas and the five countries deemed most involved in helping Russia evade energy sanctions.

The strong bipartisan Senate vote gives the bill momentum ahead of a potential House vote after lawmakers return from their summer recess on August 31.