- July 24, 2026
- 5:17 pm
- World News
The US Senate may begin considering a large-scale sanctions bill against Russia as early as the week of July 27-31, 2026. The document, on which Republican Senator Lindsey Graham worked until the last days of his life, has received support from more than 60 lawmakers and now includes additional sanctions against Iran, added at the request of President Donald Trump.
Democrats have indicated to the Republican leadership of the Senate that they are ready to proceed to a vote. If Majority Leader John Thune and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer can agree on the procedure, the consideration of the bill could become a rare example of bipartisan cooperation in Congress, which spent most of 2026 in a state of intense political confrontation.
The bill has officially been named the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026. The updated version was presented on July 16 by Senators Richard Blumenthal and Darlene Graham with the support of more than 60 colleagues. Such a number of co-authors means that supporters of the initiative theoretically have enough votes to overcome procedural blockage in the Senate.
Lindsey Graham’s last political initiative
Lindsey Graham died on July 11, 2026, shortly after returning from Ukraine. The day before his death, he, along with Blumenthal, Jeanne Shaheen, and Roger Wicker, announced an agreement with the White House on a new version of the sanctions package.
Shortly before that, Graham met in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Among the topics of discussion were Ukraine’s air defense and the advancement of American sanctions legislation against Russia.
On Tuesday, July 28, a memorial ceremony for the senator is to be held at the Capitol. It may provide an emotional backdrop for the consideration of the bill that Graham had been trying to push through Congress for over a year. One of the document’s authors, Richard Blumenthal, recalling his colleague’s reaction to the achieved compromise, quoted his words: “This is a damn big deal.”
Graham was one of the most consistent supporters of Ukraine in the Republican Party, simultaneously supporting Israel and advocating for strong pressure on the Iranian regime. Therefore, the adoption of the law during the days of farewell to the senator acquires not only political but also symbolic significance.
How the bill changed after Graham’s death
The initial version, presented by Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal back on April 1, 2025, provided for extremely harsh secondary tariffs — up to 500% — on goods from countries continuing to buy Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other products. By spring 2025, the document was already supported by 81 senators.
However, such a broad formulation could lead to a trade confrontation between the US not only with China and India but also with a number of Washington’s allies. To gain the White House’s consent and maintain bipartisan support, the authors significantly softened the document.
| Provision | Initial version | 2026 edition |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum secondary tariffs | Up to 500% | Up to 100% |
| Number of main targets | A wide range of buyers of Russian resources | The five largest importers of oil and gas, as well as major sanctions violators |
| Presidential powers | More limited | Ability to impose tariffs and grant exceptions |
| Iran | Was not a main part of the package | Sanction provisions added at Trump’s request |
The updated text allows the US president to impose tariffs of up to 100% on imports from countries buying the majority of Russian oil and gas or playing a significant role in circumventing sanctions. Official explanations of the document mention the five largest importers of Russian energy resources and key intermediaries helping Moscow avoid restrictions.
Who the sanctions are aimed at
The bill is not limited to tariffs against buyers of Russian energy. It provides for primary and secondary sanctions against Russian officials, oligarchs, their family members, financial organizations, and foreign entities supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The restrictions may apply to:
- the top Russian political and military leadership;
- Russian banks and financial institutions;
- companies and intermediaries serving the military industry;
- ships of the Russian shadow fleet;
- foreign individuals helping to circumvent sanctions;
- energy projects and structures providing Russia with export revenues.
Special attention is given to the so-called shadow fleet — a network of old tankers registered through opaque companies and used to transport Russian oil bypassing Western restrictions.
The main idea of the law is to make trade with Russia too expensive for countries continuing to finance its war. Large buyers of Russian energy resources are essentially offered a choice between cheap oil from Russia and full access to the American market.
China, India, and European countries
Among the most likely targets of the tariff mechanism are the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas. These may include China, India, Hungary, Slovakia, and Azerbaijan. In the gas sector, the restrictions could potentially affect France, Japan, and Belgium.
For some countries, exceptions are provided. A state can avoid tariffs if its share in purchases of Russian gas is relatively small and it demonstrates a significant reduction in dependence on Russian supplies.
It is precisely the possible consequences for US allies that raise doubts among some Democrats. Some senators fear that the law will give Donald Trump another powerful tool for unilaterally imposing tariffs and using them not only against Russia but also in broader trade negotiations.
However, according to Axios, opponents of expanding presidential powers may slow down the consideration of the document, but currently do not have enough votes to completely stop it.
Why Iran was added to the Russian bill
The second significant change appeared after July 19, 2026, when Donald Trump demanded that the package be extended to Iran. The president stated that adding Iranian sanctions was in line with Lindsey Graham’s intentions.
Initially, senators did not understand what specific restrictions the White House wanted to see. As a result, it was decided to include relatively undisputed sanction measures against Iran in the document, which should expire at the end of 2026. Republican Majority Leader John Thune reported that Republican senators have no fundamental objections to such an addition.
There is currently no basis to assert that the same 100-percent tariff mechanism intended for the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas will be applied against Iran. According to available information, it primarily concerns the extension and maintenance of existing sanction pressure on the Iranian regime.
For Israel, the inclusion of Iran has separate significance. Lindsey Graham consistently opposed the Iranian nuclear program and supported Israel’s right to defense. The unification of the Russian and Iranian directions underscores the increasingly close connection between the threats emanating from Moscow and Tehran.
As repeatedly noted by “NAnews — Israel News“, Russia and Iran can no longer be considered as two completely independent problems. Their military, energy, and intelligence cooperation simultaneously affects the security of Ukraine, Israel, the US, and the entire Western world.
Why Ukraine supporters demand quick action
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the leading Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated that Ukraine has gained momentum on the battlefield, and the Kremlin’s position is becoming increasingly difficult. According to her, this is why Congress needs to act as quickly as possible.
This assessment should be seen as the political position of the bill’s supporters. The war continues, and the struggle for strategic initiative is not yet over. However, Ukraine has indeed demonstrated the ability to disrupt Russian plans, strike at Russia’s energy and military infrastructure, and increase the cost of further aggression.
Economic pressure at such a moment can be especially important. The Russian military machine largely depends on revenues from oil and gas exports. As long as China, India, and other countries continue to buy Russian resources, the Kremlin retains the ability to finance the production of missiles, drones, and weapons.
New American measures should hit not only Russia itself but also the international system that allows Putin to continue the war.
The law has not yet been passed
Despite the support of more than 60 senators, a final decision has not yet been made. John Thune and Chuck Schumer need to agree on the duration of debates, amendments, and voting time.
Even after Senate approval, the bill must pass the House of Representatives and then be submitted to Donald Trump for signature. The presence of a compromise with the White House increases the document’s chances but does not guarantee its quick transformation into law.
Moreover, the president’s ability to grant exceptions can significantly affect the practical effectiveness of future sanctions. The law creates a powerful mechanism, but its real strength will depend on how consistently the US administration decides to apply it against China, India, and other major trading partners.
The best way to honor a friend of Ukraine and Israel
In the opinion of the editorial board of “NAnews — Israel News”, the Senate should consider and pass this bill without further delays.
Lindsey Graham, until his last days, tried to ensure that support for Ukraine was expressed not only in statements but also in concrete economic pressure on Russia. He understood that aggression could not be stopped if the Kremlin continued to receive billions of dollars from energy sales unhindered.
At the same time, Graham remained a great friend of Israel and a consistent opponent of the Iranian regime. Including sanctions against Iran makes his last legislative initiative even more significant for the two countries, whose security was an important part of his political activity.
Passing the law during the days of farewell to Lindsey Graham would not just be a symbolic gesture. It would turn his last initiative into a real tool of pressure on regimes threatening Ukraine, Israel, and international security.