„Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026“ expands sanctions and other restrictions targeting Russia, and also extends the validity of the Iran sanctions law for another five years. The Trump administration had officially supported it before the law was passed.
Among its provisions is a requirement for the president to impose tariffs of up to 100% on goods imported from foreign countries that meet specified criteria no later than 30 days after the law is enacted.
This includes countries that knowingly purchase Russian-origin crude oil or natural gas after 30 days from the law’s enactment and which, during the previous 12 months, were among the top five importers of Russian crude oil or natural gas by volume. This provision also applies to the five largest countries that helped Russia evade oil sanctions during the previous period.
The law allows the president to waive tariffs, sanctions, or restrictions if he submits a written certification to Congress that it is in the national interest, along with a report explaining the basis for such a waiver. It also requires the president to impose tariffs of up to 500% on goods imported from Russia within 30 days of the law’s enactment, subject to exceptions provided in the law.
Additionally, the law expands sanctions applied to Russian officials, financial institutions, state-controlled or state-affiliated entities, energy sector actors, vessels involved in sanctions evasion, and other intermediaries.
President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed Trump’s decision, thanking him as well as members of both chambers of Congress who supported the measure.
Zelensky recalled that L.O. Graham had repeatedly called for increased economic pressure on Moscow, including targeting purchases of Russian oil, financial services provided to Russia, and international business ties with Russian companies associated with the Kremlin and its war against Ukraine.
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“The best way to honor Lindsey’s memory will be the full and swift implementation of the provisions of this law,” Zelensky said.
He added that L.O. Graham believed the United States had enough leverage to confront authoritarian governments if it acted decisively.
“Peace comes through strength. Security comes through safety. And the best guarantee of security is resolve,” Zelensky said.
The House of Representatives passed the legislation on September 16 by a vote of 262 to 159 and sent it to Trump. The measure had already passed the Senate in August, with 86 senators voting in favor, 11 against, and it received strong bipartisan support.
The law faced some opposition from lawmakers over the broad tariff authority it grants the president. The law does not name specific countries, but China and India are among the world’s largest buyers of Russian oil and could be subject to its provisions.
L.O. Graham, a Republican senator from South Carolina and a prominent advocate for additional sanctions on Moscow, had sought the passage of this legislation for more than a year. He died on July 11 at age 71 from heart disease, a day after meeting with Zelensky during a visit to Kyiv.
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The legislation was later renamed in honor of L.O. Graham.
