The U.S. Senate voted 86-11 to pass the "Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026," imposing new penalties on Russia and Iran. The bill authorizes the president to impose tariffs of up to 100% on Russian oil and natural gas, with an exemption for countries importing less than 15% of their gas from Russia. It also targets Vladimir Putin, senior Russian officials, oligarchs and financial institutions, and adds Iran sanctions focusing on energy and weapons manufacturing. Lawmakers debated the scope of the president's tariff authority, and an amendment to limit that power was withdrawn before the vote.
Senate Approves 86-11 Sanctions Bill Targeting Russia and Iran
The U.S. Senate passed a bill on Friday that imposes new sanctions on Iran and on Russia for its war with Ukraine. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., cosponsored the bill with late Sen. Lindsey Graham. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
The U.S. Senate on Friday approved legislation that imposes new sanctions on Iran and expands penalties on Russia for its war in Ukraine. The measure passed by an 86-11 vote and is formally titled the "Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026."
The bill, developed over several months and once championed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, gives the president authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on Russian oil and natural gas imports. The measure includes an exception for countries that import less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia.
In addition to tariff authority, the legislation authorizes targeted sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior Russian officials, oligarchs, banks and other financial institutions. At the request of President Donald Trump, the bill was amended to add new sanctions on Iran focused on its energy sector and weapons manufacturing.
Debate and Contention
Granting the White House the power to levy 100% tariffs on Russian energy was a central point of contention. Roughly one-third of senators urged removing that provision, and Democrats warned against giving the president expansive tariff authority. Senators Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) proposed an amendment to limit the president's tariff power but withdrew it from consideration shortly before the vote.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a cosponsor of the bill, invoked the late Sen. Lindsey Graham in describing the measure: "I'm not even going to try to channel my inner Lindsey Graham, except to say, as he said to me in some of his last words, 'This is a big effing deal.'"
The Senate moved to complete this legislation as part of a short list of priorities before beginning a five-week recess next week.
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