US Senate passes Lindsey Graham Act to sanction Russia and Iran

US Senate Russia sanctions energy tariffs Lindsey Graham Act Iran sanctions

The US Senate has passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 with an 86-11 bipartisan vote. The legislation, championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham and co-sponsored by Senator Richard Blumenthal, seeks to increase economic pressure on Russia by targeting the energy revenues that fund its war in Ukraine.

The act authorizes the US President to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest importers of Russian oil and gas, as well as on five countries found to be assisting in the evasion of energy sanctions. Major importers currently including China and India are potentially affected by these measures. The bill also includes provisions to target the "shadow fleet" of vessels used to bypass sanctions, along with direct sanctions on Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, and various financial institutions.

Additionally, the legislation extends existing US sanctions against Iran's energy and weapons sectors through 2031. The bill now proceeds to the US House of Representatives, where it is expected to be considered after the summer recess in late August or September.

Entities: Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency · Donald Trump · India · Jamieson Greer · Laundry Bear · Lindsey Graham · Lindsey O. Graham · National Security Agency · Rand Paul · Richard Blumenthal · Russia · U.S. Senate

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 34 SOURCES] The bill targets Russian political officials, oligarchs, banks and the shadow fleet. (Sanctions are directed at Russian leaders, oligarchs, financial institutions and the shadow fleet.)
[● 14 SOURCES] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended Senator Graham’s funeral and said the bill sends a strong signal to Europe and Ukraine. (Zelenskyy praised the legislation as a strong signal to Europe and Ukraine.)
[● 34 SOURCES] The bill permits waivers for countries that import less than 15 % of Russia’s total natural‑gas exports and are reducing those imports. (Exemptions apply to nations importing under 15 % of Russian gas and taking steps to cut those imports.)
[● 24 SOURCES] The bill authorises the president to impose tariffs of up to 100 % on goods from the five largest importers of Russian oil or gas. (The legislation allows the president to levy tariffs up to 100 % on the top five buyers of Russian energy.)
[● 7 SOURCES] The bill would allow tariffs of up to 500% on goods imported directly from Russia. (tariff_direct_russia)
[● 28 SOURCES] The U.S. Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 with a vote of 86‑11. (The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 86‑11.)
[● 20 SOURCES] The legislation expands sanctions on Iran. (Bill text)
[● 2 SOURCES] Senator Raphael Warnock placed a procedural hold on the bill, delaying its fast‑track consideration. (Senate record)
[● 29 SOURCES] The legislation authorises the president to impose tariffs of up to 100% on goods from the five largest importers of Russian oil or gas, including China and India. (tariff_importers)
[● 20 SOURCES] The bill has passed the Senate and now proceeds to the House of Representatives for consideration. (Legislative process)
[● 6 SOURCES] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended Senator Graham’s funeral, watched the Senate vote and said the bill sends a big signal to Europe and Ukraine. (Public remarks)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The European Union plans to ban imports of Russian LNG starting in 2027. (EU policy announcement)