Senate Passes Russia Sanctions Bill Named for Late Sen. Graham

WASHINGTON — The Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 on Thursday, sending the 61-page bill to the House and delivering a posthumous victory to the South Carolina Republican who spent years pushing for tougher economic penalties against Moscow.

The final vote was 68 to 9, following a procedural vote earlier this week that cleared 86 to 12.

The bill grants President Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on the top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas. It also authorizes new sanctions on Russian officials and extends existing sanctions on Iran, aiming to cut off funding for Moscow's war in Ukraine.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died recently, had championed the legislation for years. The Senate renamed the bill in his honor.

The measure takes direct aim at China and India, which remain the largest buyers of Russian energy exports. The tariffs are designed to reduce those purchases and drain Russia's war revenues.

Trump will decide whether and when to impose the tariffs if the bill becomes law, giving the White House direct leverage over governments still buying Russian energy.

The bill now goes to the House, where its fate remains uncertain.

The final vote was 68 to 9, following a procedural vote earlier this week that cleared 86 to 12.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died recently, had championed the legislation for years. The Senate renamed the bill in his honor.

The measure takes direct aim at China and India, which remain the largest buyers of Russian energy exports. The tariffs are designed to reduce those purchases and drain Russia's war revenues.

Trump will decide whether and when to impose the tariffs if the bill becomes law, giving the White House direct leverage over governments still buying Russian energy.

The bill now goes to the House, where its fate remains uncertain.