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// DOSSIER — senate-advances-sanctioning-russia-iran-act
Senate Advances 'Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act' with Zelenskyy in Attendance
REL_TIME: 29 Jul 2026 07:57Z · LANG: EN
On July 28, 2026, the U.S. Senate passed a critical procedural vote 86-12 to advance a sweeping sanctions bill targeting the economies of Russia and Iran. Formally renamed the 'Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026' following the senator's recent death, the legislation proposes 100% secondary tariffs on the top five global purchasers of Russian energy, specifically naming China and India as primary targets. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in Washington for Graham's funeral, personally lobbied senators and observed the vote from the Senate gallery. The bill, which also targets Russia's 'shadow fleet' of tankers and extends Iran sanctions through 2031, has received backing from President Trump despite concerns from some Democrats regarding the expansion of executive tariff powers.
// Background
The legislation is the result of over a year of negotiations led by the late Senator Lindsey Graham and Senator Richard Blumenthal. Originally proposing tariffs as high as 500%, the bill was moderated to 100% to secure White House support. It arrives during a period of escalated conflict in Ukraine and heightened tensions with Iran, following recent U.S. military strikes on Iranian-aligned targets in Iraq. The bill's advancement was timed to coincide with Graham's funeral, serving as a legislative tribute to his foreign policy legacy.
// Key Developments
- The Senate advanced the bill in an 86-12 procedural vote, signaling strong bipartisan support.
- The legislation authorizes 100% secondary tariffs on the top five buyers of Russian oil and gas, re-evaluated every 180 days.
- India and China are identified as the primary targets of the new tariff measures.
- The bill was renamed to honor the late Senator Lindsey Graham, who died on July 11, 2026.
- President Trump requested the inclusion of extended Iran sanctions, which now run through 2031.
- Provisions specifically target Russia's 'shadow fleet' of aging tankers used to circumvent existing price caps.
- Eleven Democrats and one Republican (Rand Paul) voted against the measure, citing concerns over presidential tariff authority.
// Timeline
-
Initial version of the Russia sanctions bill introduced with proposed 500% tariffs.
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Senators Graham and Blumenthal announce a final deal with the White House on the bill's text.
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Senator Lindsey Graham dies suddenly from an aortic tear.
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President Zelenskyy attends Senator Graham's funeral and meets with President Trump.
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Zelenskyy meets with a bipartisan group of senators before watching the 86-12 procedural vote from the gallery.
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Final Senate passage expected, followed by a move to the House of Representatives after the August recess.
// Perspectives
[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]
Strongly supportive; views the sanctions as a vital moral and economic signal to sustain Ukraine's defense.
[Donald Trump]
Supportive; 'greenlit' the bill after ensuring it included aggressive Iran sanctions and broad tariff authority.
[Dissenting Democrats]
Opposed to the specific mechanism of granting the president unilateral power to impose 100% tariffs, fearing economic volatility.
[India]
Directly threatened; as the second-largest buyer of Russian crude, the country faces a choice between discounted oil and U.S. market access.
// Quotes
“This bill is very important... It's not only about the money Russia uses to finance this war. It is also a big signal to Europe, a big signal to Ukraine and big support for our people.”
“To be really blunt, China and India are the main culprits here. They are fueling Russia's war machine, and they are doing us no favors anywhere else in the world.”
“It is extremely dangerous to give Trump massive new tariff powers, particularly after we’ve seen the disastrous impacts of his corrupt, chaotic, and inflationary tariff spree.”
