President Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 on Friday, a bill named for the late senator who pushed it through Congress before his death. The measure expands the president’s power to impose tariffs on foreign buyers of Russian oil and gas, targets Chinese and Indian purchases, and extends sanctions on Iran’s energy and weapons sectors.
The bill passed the House earlier this week with bipartisan support and cleared the Senate in August. It now gives the president authority to impose tariffs up to 100% on the five largest purchasers of Russian oil and gas, including China and India, which are the largest buyers of Russian crude oil. The law also sanctions Russian President Vladimir Putin, his government officials, oligarchs, and Russian banks and financial institutions.
The Bill’s Targets
The bill’s core tool is the new tariff authority. The president can now hit the five largest purchasers of Russian oil and gas with tariffs as high as 100%, a threshold that covers both China and India, which have been buying Russian crude in larger volumes since the U.S. war with Iran tightened global supply. The global oil crunch due to that war initially benefited Russia, and the Trump administration temporarily allowed purchase of Russian oil already at sea early in the war.
The sanctions on Iran extend to its energy and weapons sectors. The bill also targets Chinese and Indian purchases of Russian oil and gas, with the law’s text singling out those two countries as the largest purchasers of Russian crude. The president’s power to impose tariffs on those purchases now exists.
“The holdup is two people that hate each other”
That quote comes from Trump himself, speaking about the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. It reflects a frustration with the war that has persisted despite campaign pledges to end it by his first day in office. The quote is notable because it captures Trump’s blunt assessment of the situation, even as he prepares to meet with Xi Jinping at the White House on Sept. 24.
Graham’s Legacy
Lindsey Graham died suddenly in July at age 71 after returning from a trip to Ukraine. He died in Washington from a torn aorta. Trump delivered the eulogy at Graham’s funeral.
Graham had been a leading force behind the bill, pushing it through the Senate in August despite concerns from some Democrats about expanding presidential tariff authority over foreign energy purchases. The bill’s name honors him, and its passage represents a lasting legislative achievement for the late senator.
Kushner’s Trip to Moscow
Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff visited Putin in Moscow and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv earlier this month. The visits were part of the administration’s diplomatic activity around the war.
What the Law Does
The bill’s reach is broad. It sanctions Putin and his government officials, oligarchs, and Russian banks and financial institutions. It also extends sanctions on Iran’s energy and weapons sectors. The tariff authority over foreign energy purchases is the most novel element, giving the president a new lever to influence global energy markets.
The global oil crunch due to the U.S. war with Iran initially benefited Russia. The Trump administration temporarily allowed purchase of Russian oil already at sea early in the war.
The bill’s passage is a victory for Graham’s legacy, but it also raises questions about how the administration will wield its new powers. The law gives the president a potent tool, and the answers to those questions will shape the coming months.
The signing marks the culmination of Graham’s push. The late senator’s name now sits atop a significant piece of sanctions legislation. The law’s effects will ripple through global energy markets for years to come.
The bill’s supporters see it as a powerful tool for protecting American interests and allies. Some Democrats expressed concern about expanding presidential tariff authority over foreign energy purchases. The law now stands, and the administration holds the keys to its implementation.
See the video the story is built around at CBS News.
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