Overview
- President Trump called for Iran and Hezbollah to be folded into the bipartisan Sanctioning Russia Act, saying the change would honor the late Senator Lindsey Graham.
- U.S. Central Command said American forces began airstrikes on Iran at the President’s direction to punish IRGC attacks on U.S. service members and to blunt threats to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
- The Senate bill currently offers up to 100% tariffs on the top five buyers of Russian energy, includes exemptions and a presidential waiver, and remains pending in Congress.
- Supporters say the measure aims to cut Moscow’s wartime energy revenue, while critics warn expanding it to target Iran would strain ties with major importers like China and India and disrupt energy markets.
- Lawmakers now face a tense choice between advancing the negotiated bipartisan text or reopening it to add Iran and Hezbollah, a decision that will affect enforcement complexity, U.S. diplomacy, and regional stability.