WASHINGTON, United States — The U.S. Senate has overwhelmingly approved legislation targeting Russia and Iran with new sanctions, advancing the measure after months of stalled negotiations and naming it in honor of the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, one of its strongest supporters. The bill passed 86-11 and now moves to the Republican-controlled House, where its prospects remain uncertain.
- The Senate approved the sanctions legislation by an 86-11 vote.
- The measure targets major buyers of Russian oil and gas and adds sanctions on Russian officials and oligarchs.
- The bill also expands sanctions authority aimed at Iran’s weapons and energy sectors.
- The legislation now heads to the House, where its future remains unclear.
Bill targets Russia’s energy revenue
The 61-page legislation has been renamed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 in recognition of Graham, who was a leading advocate of tougher measures against Moscow.
A central provision seeks to penalize major purchasers of Russian oil and gas. The legislation would also impose additional sanctions on Russian leaders, their family members and oligarchs.
The measure further provides for targeted tariffs on goods imported from countries that purchase significant quantities of Russian oil and gas. The tariff authority would be limited to the five largest importers.
Thune says sanctions could pressure Moscow
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Republican of South Dakota, argued that cutting Russia’s access to oil and gas revenue could restrict its ability to sustain the war in Ukraine.
But as long as Putin has Russian oil and gas money, he’s able to continue this war.
Thune said the legislation would help support Ukraine by targeting a major source of revenue available to Russia during the conflict.
Iran provisions added after Trump demand
The legislation also contains provisions concerning Iran. Following a last-minute demand from President Donald Trump, the bill extends sanctioning authority intended to restrict funding for Iran’s weapons and energy sectors.
The measure therefore combines pressure on two governments facing sustained U.S. sanctions, while using separate provisions to address Russia’s energy revenues and Iran’s strategic sectors.
Democrats and Rand Paul raise objections
The legislation has faced opposition from some Democrats as well as Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky.
Critics among Senate Democrats have argued that the bill would give Trump excessive authority to impose tariffs on countries that purchase Russian energy.
Despite those objections, the measure secured enough support to clear the Senate by a wide margin. Its passage follows a procedural vote in which senators voted 86-12 to advance the legislation last month.
Agreement reached after Lindsey Graham’s death
The Senate agreement was announced Tuesday by Senator Darline Graham of South Carolina, Graham’s sister and appointed successor, along with Senators Richard Blumenthal, Katie Britt, Jeanne Shaheen, Roger Wicker and Jim Risch.
The senators had reached the agreement on July 28, less than two weeks after Graham’s unexpected death. They described the legislation as a way to continue his efforts against Russia and Iran.
In their joint statement, the senators said the agreement would target purchasers of Russian oil and gas while maintaining pressure on Iran over terrorism and its nuclear program.
House faces next decision
With Senate approval secured, the legislation now moves to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. The supplied report says its future there is uncertain, leaving the next stage of the sanctions effort dependent on the House’s response.
The Senate vote marks the latest step in an effort that had faced repeated delays. The earlier procedural vote and subsequent agreement cleared the way for the final Senate vote, but the legislation still needs to advance through the House before becoming law.
What happens next
The House will now determine whether to take up the Russia-Iran sanctions legislation and what action to take on it. Until that process is completed, the Senate-approved measure does not establish the new sanctions and tariff provisions as law.
The legislation’s next stage will also determine whether the proposed restrictions on Russian energy buyers and additional measures targeting Iran receive congressional approval.
