Senate Overwhelmingly Passes Late Lindsey Graham’s Russia and Iran Sanctions Bill

The Senate overwhelmingly approved a sweeping sanctions package championed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham on Friday, advancing legislation designed to increase economic pressure on Russia and Iran while honoring the longtime South Carolina Republican following his death last month.

Senators approved the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 in an 86-11 vote, demonstrating broad bipartisan support for tougher economic measures against two of America’s major adversaries. The legislation now heads to the House for consideration following its summer recess.

Graham spent more than a year pushing the Russia sanctions package as part of an effort to squeeze the revenue Moscow receives from its massive energy industry. He had returned from a trip to Kyiv shortly before his death and announced that an agreement had been reached with the Trump administration to move forward with an updated version of the legislation.

The bill would give President Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major countries purchasing Russian oil and natural gas. By targeting Russia’s biggest energy customers rather than Moscow alone, supporters hope to make it increasingly expensive for foreign governments to continue providing the Kremlin with a crucial source of revenue.

The legislation also contains additional sanctions targeting Iran’s energy and weapons sectors. The expanded package reflects growing congressional pressure on Tehran while strengthening existing efforts to isolate Russia economically over its continuing war against Ukraine.

Graham’s sister, Sen. Darline Graham Nordone, who was appointed to temporarily fill his South Carolina Senate seat, was given the honor of announcing the final vote tally. She spoke about carrying forward her brother’s work and argued that lawmakers must demonstrate the same determination he showed in confronting hostile foreign governments.

The measure had been stalled in Congress for months as lawmakers negotiated its details and President Trump pursued diplomatic efforts involving Russia. Graham’s death in July helped bring renewed momentum to legislation that had become one of his signature foreign policy initiatives.

The 11 senators who opposed the legislation included Republican Sen. Rand Paul and 10 Democrats. Some opponents raised concerns about expanding presidential tariff authority, while supporters argued that the extraordinary bipartisan vote demonstrated Congress was prepared to give Trump additional economic tools to pressure Moscow.

The House will now determine whether Graham’s legislation reaches President Trump’s desk. If approved there and signed into law, the measure would represent one of the most significant sanctions packages targeting Russian energy since the invasion of Ukraine and would ensure that one of Graham’s final major legislative efforts becomes part of his legacy in Congress.