Overview
- Senators voted 86‑12 on Tuesday to advance consideration of the bipartisan Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, a procedural step that sets up a likely final Senate vote later this week.
- The package combines new sanctions on Russian officials, oligarchs, banks and the so‑called shadow fleet used to evade export restrictions with a five‑year presidential tariff authority aimed at the top buyers of Russian oil and gas.
- If enacted, the bill would allow the president to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on major purchasers of Russian energy, a power negotiators narrowed to the top five buyers and built in waiver and exemption rules to limit immediate spillovers.
- President Trump requested the addition of Iran sanctions and the bill extends existing restrictions on Tehran’s energy and weapons funding through 2031, a change that helped secure White House backing.
- Opponents warn the tariff authority could raise U.S. import costs and strain ties with large buyers such as China and India, and some Democrats plan amendments during Senate debate before the House, which is on recess, can consider the bill in September.