Senate Approves Sweeping Sanctions Package
The Senate voted 86-11 on Friday to pass the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, a 61-page bill renamed in honor of the late Republican senator from South Carolina. The legislation, long pushed by Graham, aims to punish major buyers of Russian oil and gas and includes additional sanctions on Russian leaders, family members, and oligarchs. It also extends sanction authority to limit funding toward Iran's weapons and energy sectors, following a last-minute demand from President Donald Trump.[S1][S2]
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said the bill would help protect Ukraine against Russian aggression. "Ukraine is now the largest conflict, literally, since World War II in Europe," Thune said. "But as long as Putin has Russian oil and gas money, he's able to continue this war. And what this sanctions bill would do would basically cut that off." The bill now goes to the Republican-controlled House, where it faces an uncertain future.[S1][S2]
Key Provisions and Opposition
A central provision authorizes the president to impose tariffs of up to 100% on imports from the five largest buyers of Russian crude oil or natural gas, a group that includes China and India. Limited exceptions apply for countries that import less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and are taking significant steps to reduce those purchases. The bill also expands pressure on foreign entities supporting Russia's defense industry and targets vessels in Russia's "shadow fleet" used to evade existing oil sanctions.[S2][S3]
The bill has been criticized by a group of Democrats and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., with Democrats arguing it would give Trump too much tariff authority. Among the 11 opponents were Sens. Maggie Hassan, Mazie Hirono, Peter Welch, Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden, Bernie Sanders, Jon Ossoff, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Alex Padilla, Ed Markey, and Rand Paul. An amendment from Paul to remove the ability to impose some tariffs failed prior to passage.[S1][S3]
Bipartisan Deal and Next Steps
The Senate deal was announced Tuesday morning by Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., the late senator's sister and appointed successor, along with Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.; Katie Britt, R-Ala.; Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H.; Roger Wicker, R-Miss.; and Jim Risch, R-Idaho. The senators struck the deal July 28, less than two weeks after Graham's unexpected death, saying there was "no greater way to honor" the South Carolinian's legacy.[S1]
Senate passage was all but guaranteed after the chamber voted 86-12 to advance the bill procedurally last month. The House is in recess until September, and the bill faces an uncertain future there. Trump has signaled support for the package. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Capitol last week around the time of Graham's funeral and watched earlier procedural votes from the gallery.[S1][S2][S3]
