The Senate moved to advance a bipartisan Russia and Iran sanctions bill named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, who helped negotiate the package with the White House before his death. The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 would impose primary and secondary sanctions on Russia and its enablers, target oligarchs, banks and the Russian "shadow fleet," and authorize limited tariffs on major importers of Russian energy. The bill also extends existing Iran sanctions through 2031. A procedural vote follows Graham's funeral; with 60+ cosponsors the measure is likely to pass the Senate, but the House is in recess until Aug. 31.
Senate Advances Russia‑Iran Sanctions Bill Named For Late Sen. Lindsey Graham
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images - PHOTO: Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the FY2027 budget request on Capitol Hill, May 12, 2026 in Washington.
A bipartisan group of senators announced early Tuesday that they had reached an agreement to advance a long‑awaited sanctions package targeting Russia and Iran. The measure will carry the name of the late Sen. Lindsey O. Graham, a leading Republican advocate for strong support to Ukraine who helped negotiate the package with the White House before his sudden death earlier this month.
The Senate is scheduled to hold a procedural vote Tuesday evening on the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, timed to follow Graham's funeral at Washington National Cathedral. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Washington to attend the funeral and met with President Donald Trump; he is expected to be on Capitol Hill for a meeting convened for all senators just ahead of the vote and may be present when senators cast their ballots.
What the Bill Would Do
According to a release from the bipartisan group, the package would impose both primary and secondary sanctions on Russia and on countries that materially assist Moscow in its invasion of Ukraine. Targets include Russian political officials and oligarchs, banks and other financial institutions, and vessels known as the Russian "shadow fleet."
Jim Lo Scalzo/Pool via Getty Images - PHOTO: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Majority Leader John Thune lay a wreath at the casket during a Congressional Tribute to the late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, July 28, 2026 in Washington.
The legislation would also give the president authority to impose tariffs, but narrowly confines that authority to the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or gas and to the top five countries that facilitate Russia's evasion of energy sanctions.
Separately, the bill extends current sanctions on Iran that were set to expire this year, prolonging those measures until 2031 and further restricting funding for Iran's energy and weapons sectors.
"We are proud to announce an agreement on legislation to stop purchasers of Russian oil and gas from fueling Putin's war machine and to continue restricting the Iranian regime's ability to support terrorism and build its nuclear program," the bipartisan group said in a joint statement. "There is no greater way to honor Senator Graham's legacy than to move forward with this bipartisan agreement, and we look forward to today's vote."
Timing and Outlook
The measure already has more than 60 cosponsors, making its passage in the Senate likely. Tuesday night's action is procedural, setting the bill up for final passage later this week. Because the House of Representatives is in recess until Aug. 31, the legislation is unlikely to reach the president's desk until the House returns and takes up the measure. A White House official said the package satisfies the administration's call to include sanctions on the Iranian regime.
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