US Senate approves 'hellish' sanctions against Russia
The bill, which will be sent to the House of Representatives after it is approved by the Senate, would impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas.
US Senate approves "hellish" sanctions against Russia
The US Senate has approved a bill to tighten sanctions on Russia and Iran, Reuters reported. The bill will now go to the House of Representatives after the Senate approves it.
Senators voted 68-9 in favor of the bill, named after the late Lindsey Graham. Graham himself described the bill as a "hellish sanctions bill."
The bill would allow the US president to impose targeted tariffs on goods imported from five countries that are the largest buyers of Russian oil or gas. It also includes a provision to prevent the suspension of sanctions powers that restrict financing of Iran's energy and weapons sectors.
The new version of the bill, called the Lindsey Graham Russia and Iran Sanctions Act of 2026, would allow for tariffs of up to 100 percent on third-party imports. At the time of the procedural vote in late July, China, India, Slovakia, Hungary, and Azerbaijan were among the top buyers of Russian oil, while China, France, Japan, Hungary, and Belgium were among the top buyers of Russian gas. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a co-sponsor of the sanctions, has singled out China and India as the main targets.
In addition to tariffs, the bill would strengthen sanctions against Russian individuals and entities at the legislative level.
The president, after notifying Congress, reserves the right to suspend the sanctions in the interests of national security. Their full lifting would be possible only after a peace agreement is signed and hostilities between Russia and Ukraine cease.