WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by a vote of 86-11 on August 7, 2026. The legislation imposes tariffs and sanctions targeting Russia and Iran.

The bill establishes tariffs of up to 100% on the top five purchasers of Russian crude oil or natural gas. China and India are identified as among the top five purchasers of Russian oil and natural gas subject to these tariffs. The U.S. Trade Representative will review the five largest importers of Russian energy every 180 days to determine if tariffs should be imposed.

Exceptions to the tariffs exist for countries that import less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and are taking steps to reduce those imports. The legislation also imposes sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior Russian political and military leaders, oligarchs, and Russian financial institutions. Additionally, the bill expands U.S. sanctions to target older, reflagged oil tankers used by Russia to circumvent existing sanctions. The bill proposes secondary sanctions on shipping companies, insurers, and vessels linked to Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’.

Beyond measures targeting Russia, the legislation extends sanctions on Iran's energy and weapons sectors. This follows earlier legislative efforts such as the STOP Iran Act of 2023, which was sponsored by Sen. James Lankford [R-OK] and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Senators debated the scope of executive authority granted by the bill. The Senate defeated an amendment by Sen. Rand Paul and Sen. Ron Wyden that would have removed the new tariff authority for the president. The vote on the Paul-Wyden amendment was 32-64. The bill allows the president to waive sanctions or restrictions if he certifies to Congress that it is in the national interest.

Sen. Raphael Warnock received a written commitment from U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer regarding guardrails on tariff authority. "If Trump oversteps his power, we will see him in court," Warnock said. "We’ve got folks who are walking an economic tightrope here in America," Wyden said.

Supporters framed the vote as a message to Moscow. "Today we say to the people of Ukraine: You are not alone. And today we say to Vladimir Putin: You will not conquer Ukraine," Richard Blumenthal said.

Blumenthal added that the bill says to Putin, ‘Your days of war are numbered.’ ‘You are on the losing side. Better to come to the table now than sacrifice more lives, waste more money, crater your economy, destroy your standing in the world.’ ‘America stands with Ukraine.’

Blumenthal described the measures as necessary to halt aggression. "These sledgehammer sanctions and tariffs will stop all who are complicit in this murderous, criminal war of aggression against a brave free people," he said at a press conference. Sen. Darline Graham noted that the legislation hits Putin where it hurts.

The passage follows the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham on July 11, 2026, likely from an aortic tear, after returning from Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Capitol and watched the Senate's procedural votes from the gallery following Lindsey Graham's funeral.

The bill will next proceed to the House of Representatives for a vote. The House of Representatives is currently on recess and scheduled to return at the end of August or in September.

Why It Matters

The legislation establishes a mechanism to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major purchasers of Russian energy, directly targeting economies like China and India. By defeating an amendment to remove this tariff authority, the Senate preserved broad executive power to levy trade penalties, subject only to a national interest waiver. The bill also closes loopholes used by Russia's shadow fleet while extending sanctions to Iran's weapons sector, signaling a coordinated economic pressure campaign against both nations.