Senate passes bipartisan Russia and Iran sanctions bill championed by late Senator Lindsey Graham
The Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act on Friday by a vote of 86 to 11, sending the legislation to the House. The bill targets Russia's oil and gas revenue, imposes sanctions on Russian officials and military leaders, and extends sanctions authority against Iran. President Trump has signaled support for the bill, as has House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Two sources · Thin corroboration
The GOP-led Senate passed the bipartisan Russia and Iran sanctions bill Friday, named in honor of South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham, who died last month at the age of 71 after championing the legislation. Graham had met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shortly before his death and announced he had reached a deal with the White House to support the bill.
The legislation is designed to reduce Russia's ability to fund its war in Ukraine, which began with President Vladimir Putin's 2022 invasion. Its core mechanism targets Moscow's energy revenue: it would impose tariffs of up to 500% on Russian imports and tariffs of up to 100% on the top five countries purchasing Russian oil and gas, including China and India. It also extends existing sanctions against Iran, affecting that country's weapons and energy sectors.
Sen. Darline Graham, appointed to serve out her late brother's Senate term, spoke on the floor ahead of the vote. "The war against Ukraine is primarily funded by the revenue Russia rakes in from energy sales," she said. "Without these profits the ability to fund the war would be crippled. This legislation hits Putin where it hurts."