Senate Greenlights Sanctions Bill Targeting Russia and Iran

WHO:

NPR - Sen. Darline Graham stated, "My late brother Lindsey was a foreign policy and national security expert. He was also a peace maker who was determined to bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine."

AP News - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Capitol last week following Lindsey Graham’s funeral, met with senators from both parties, and watched from the gallery as the Senate took the first procedural votes.

AP News - Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., stated, “Today, President Zelenskyy is watching from Ukraine — and Putin is watching from Moscow. I would like to think Lindsey Graham is watching, too.”

NPR - Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., was appointed to serve out the remainder of her brother Lindsey Graham's term.

NBC News - The legislation is named after the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.

Fox News - The bill targets Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions.

WHAT:

AP News - The Senate passed the sanctions bill with a bipartisan vote of 86 to 11.

CNN - The legislation includes penalties on countries buying Russian energy, with tariffs up to 100% for major buyers like China and India.

CNN - The package would place mandatory sanctions on top figures in the Russian government, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as Russian oligarchs, state-owned enterprises, and foreign companies supporting Russia’s defense industrial base.

AP News - The legislation includes sanctions on Putin, senior Russian political and military leaders, Russian financial institutions, and Russian energy projects. It would expand U.S. sanctions to target older, reflagged oil tankers that Russia uses to circumvent existing U.S. sanctions on Russian oil and energy revenues.

NPR - The legislation will still need to pass the House before it can go to Trump for his signature.

NPR - Trump has signaled support for the bill, as has House Speaker Mike Johnson.

CNN - The Senate passed the sanctions bill with a bipartisan vote of 86 to 11.

CNN - The bill would impose up to a 100% tariff on the top five countries, including China and India, that purchase Russian crude oil and natural gas.

CNN - The bill allows an exemption for countries that import less than 15% of Russia’s total natural gas exports and are working to significantly lower their use of Russian natural gas.

ABC News - The Senate approved a sanctions bill with overwhelming bipartisan support.

CBS News - The bill imposes sanctions on Russia and includes sanctions on Iran.

Fox News - The sanctions bill targets Russia's oil and gas revenue with up to 500% tariffs on Russian imports and penalties on countries buying Russian energy.

NY Post - The legislation extends existing sanctions against Iran’s energy and weapons sectors.

WHERE:

NBC News - The Senate voted in Washington, D.C.

WHEN:

AP News - Graham and Blumenthal announced a deal with the White House on the sanctions legislation on July 10, after more than a year of negotiations.

CNN - The House is currently on recess until September.

IJR - The Senate passed the legislation on a Friday.

WHY:

AP News - Sen. Jeanne Shaheen stated that advancing the legislation now, ahead of Russia’s own elections, will put pressure on Putin to seriously revisit prospects for a peace deal.

AP News - Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, stated that advancing the legislation now, ahead of Russia’s own elections, will put pressure on Putin to seriously revisit prospects for a peace deal.

NPR - Sen. Darline Graham stated, "The war against Ukraine is primarily funded by the revenue Russia rakes in from energy sales. Without these profits the ability to fund the war would be crippled. This legislation hits Putin where it hurts."

Fox News - The sanctions aim to punish Russia for its ongoing war against Ukraine.

HOW:

AP News - The Senate defeated an amendment by Sen. Rand Paul and Sen. Ron Wyden that would have removed the new tariff authority for Trump.

AP News - The Senate defeated an amendment by Republican Sen. Rand Paul and Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden that would have removed the new tariff authority for Trump.

CBS News - The Senate has been attempting to pass the legislation for more than a year.

(UPDATED August 8, 2026 00:42 UTC)

The Senate has passed a significant sanctions bill with a bipartisan vote of eighty-six to eleven, aimed at imposing penalties on countries purchasing Russian energy, including tariffs that could reach up to one hundred percent for major buyers like China and India. Senator Jeanne Shaheen emphasized that advancing this legislation now, ahead of Russia's upcoming elections, is intended to pressure Putin into reconsidering a peace deal regarding Ukraine. Additionally, an amendment proposed by Senators Rand Paul and Ron Wyden, which sought to eliminate the new tariff authority for Trump, was defeated.

(UPDATED August 7, 2026 22:29 UTC)

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy recently visited the Capitol, where he met with senators from both parties and observed the Senate's initial procedural votes following Lindsey Graham’s funeral. In a statement, Senator Richard Blumenthal noted that while President Zelenskyy watches from Ukraine and Putin from Moscow, he hopes Graham is also watching. Meanwhile, a new sanctions package targeting top Russian officials, including Putin, has been proposed, aiming to pressure Russia ahead of its upcoming elections and to curb its energy revenues.

(UPDATED August 7, 2026 20:37 UTC)

Senator Darline Graham of South Carolina has been appointed to complete her brother Lindsey Graham's term. The legislation she supports will need to pass the House before it can reach Trump for his signature, but both Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson have expressed their backing for the bill. Graham emphasized the importance of the legislation, stating that it targets the revenue Russia earns from energy sales, which is crucial for funding the war against Ukraine.

(UPDATED August 7, 2026 19:49 UTC)

The Senate has passed a significant sanctions bill with a strong bipartisan vote of eighty-six to eleven. This legislation would impose tariffs of up to one hundred percent on the top five countries, including China and India, that purchase Russian crude oil and natural gas, although there is an exemption for countries importing less than fifteen percent of Russia's total natural gas exports and actively working to reduce their reliance. Meanwhile, the House is currently on recess until September.

(UPDATED August 7, 2026 18:39 UTC)

The Senate has approved a sanctions bill with overwhelming bipartisan support, targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions and punishing Russia for its ongoing war against Ukraine. Named after the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, the legislation imposes significant tariffs on Russian oil and gas imports and extends existing sanctions against Iran’s energy and weapons sectors. After more than a year of attempts, the Senate voted in Washington, D.C. to pass this crucial bill on a Friday.