The US Senate on Friday passed the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by an 86-11 vote, advancing legislation that would impose steep tariffs on the top five importers of Russian oil and gas. The bill authorizes President Donald Trump to levy tariffs of up to 100 percent on goods from those countries, while also imposing sanctions and visa bans on Vladimir Putin and senior Russian military commanders. Tariffs on Russian exports themselves could reach 500 percent.
The legislation, named for the late Senator Lindsey Graham, who died on July 11 at age 71 following a trip to Kyiv, also targets clandestine maritime networks used to evade Western embargoes and extends Iran sanctions through 2031. Some Democrats objected to the broad tariff authority granted to the president.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the Senate's action. The Russian Embassy in Washington condemned the bill. A House vote will not occur until at least early September due to the congressional recess.