The US Senate passed a bipartisan bill on Friday to impose harsher sanctions on Russia and Iran by an 86 to 11 vote.
The vote ended more than a year and a half of negotiations between Republicans and Democrats. The text must now be approved by the House of Representatives, where voting will only take place at the beginning of September because of parliamentary recess.
The bill allows the United States government to impose import tariffs of up to 100 percent on the five main buyers of Russian oil and gas. It also targets countries that help bypass existing sanctions against the Russian energy sector, including China and India.
Sanctions on Iran and Russia
Sanctions were also extended to Iran after the Islamic Republic was added to the document a few weeks ago at the request of US President Donald Trump. The text includes measures to prevent the end of sanctions on the energy and weapons sectors of Iran.
The legislation was first introduced in April 2025 and focuses primarily on Russia to increase pressure on Moscow over the war and occupation of Ukrainian territory. It includes new sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin and other high-ranking officials.
Republican Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said in a speech before the vote that the law brings the end of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine closer. Risch added that it will have a decisive impact beyond the battlefield by cutting off the money flow feeding Putin's war machine.
Targeting the shadow fleet
For the first time, the United States is also targeting Russia's shadow fleet of ships used by Moscow to circumvent Western embargoes since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The legislation was named after Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator and staunch defender of Ukraine who died on July 11. One day before his death, Graham announced alongside other Republican and Democratic senators that he had obtained White House agreement for new sanctions on Russian hydrocarbons, which had previously been blocked by President Donald Trump.
Darline Graham, who replaced her late brother in the Senate, said before the vote that final approval honors him and hits Putin where it hurts most. She said the law targets those supporting Russia's war in Ukraine and forces countries keeping Russia's economy afloat to choose between doing business with the United States or buying cheap Russian energy.
Political reactions and Russian response
Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement on Tuesday that Putin only understands strength and responds to pressure. She said the bill represents the best chance to break the Russian war machine and force Putin to the negotiating table.
However, some Democratic politicians expressed concern over the new tariff powers given to Trump under the legislation.
In late July, the Russian embassy in the United States condemned the bill, stating it does a disservice to the United States. The embassy stated that given the war in Iran, an imminent energy crisis, and rising prices ahead of midterm elections, sanctioning Russia and its trade partners would be extremely counterproductive for the United States.
