Congress has passed Graham sanctions

What's happened

Congress has passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 and President Trump has signed it into law. The law expands sanctions on Russian officials, banks and a "shadow fleet" of tankers, and grants the president authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas.

What's behind the headline?

What this law does

• The law has broadened US tools to cut Russian energy revenue by sanctioning senior officials, banks, defence firms and an ageing "shadow fleet" of tankers that move oil around existing restrictions.
• It has given the president authority to impose secondary tariffs up to 100% on the top five importers of Russian oil or gas and on countries judged to be helping Russia evade sanctions.

Immediate consequences

• The measure will force trading partners who rely on Russian hydrocarbon exports to choose between costly supply changes or facing heavy US tariffs.
• The law will concentrate enforcement decisions in the White House by allowing the president to waive or apply tariffs and sanctions at his discretion.

Political dynamics and risks

• The bill has split Democrats: 58 House Democrats joined most Republicans to pass it, while House leaders warned the tariff authority will let the president hit allies and raise US prices.
• Domestic politics will shape how the law is used: the White House has broad leeway to target countries, which will create diplomatic friction with China, India and EU partners if tariffs are applied.

Likely outcomes

• This will increase pressure on Moscow's energy revenues and will reduce some channels for sanction evasion if enforcement targets the shadow tanker network effectively.
• This will also raise the probability of retaliatory measures, trade disruptions and higher fuel or consumer prices in countries targeted with tariffs.

Bottom line

The law has built a powerful economic instrument to squeeze Russia's war finance while handing extensive tariff and waiver powers to the president — a trade-off that will reshape US diplomacy and trade conflict management for the months ahead.

How we got here

Lawmakers drafted the measure over more than a year after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Senators approved it 86–11 and the House cleared it 262–159. The bill was renamed for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, who negotiated the package with Sen. Richard Blumenthal and backed the effort until his death.

Our analysis

Coverage agreed on the bill's core provisions but emphasised different risks and motives. AP News framed the law as "a final legacy item for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham," noting the 86–11 Senate vote and that it is aimed to "starve" Putin of war funds. AP quoted Sen. Richard Blumenthal saying, "Putin is a thug who understands only force and strength" to show supporters' intent. The Guardian highlighted concerns that the law "gives [the president] wide leeway over its implementation," warning that the tariff authority could be used against allies; it said the bill "allows Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on buyers of Russian energy." Axios summarised procedural politics, saying Republican leaders rejected Democratic attempts to narrow the tariff language and emphasising the bill's bipartisan scramble. Bloomberg spelled out the likely targets, noting that "China, India and Turkey are the largest purchasers of Russian petroleum products." Several outlets quoted House Democrats including Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Gregory Meeks warning that the expanded tariff power would "visit economic harm on the American people" and could hit allies. The Moscow Times and The Times of Israel reported the bill's aim to cut Moscow's war funding and noted debate over whether the president already had sufficient authority. Across sources, supporters framed the law as increasing pressure on Russia; critics focused on the tariff authority and waiver powers that centralise discretion in the White House.

Go deeper

• Which countries import the most Russian oil and will be first affected?
• How will the administration determine when to impose tariffs or issue waivers?
• What enforcement steps will target the "shadow fleet" of tankers?

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