The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 is a United States federal Act designed to impose and expand sanctions against Russia and Iran. The legislation originated from a bill introduced by the late Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, gaining fresh momentum after his death in July 2026. The Act was created to penalize Russia for its aggression in Ukraine and to restrict funding for Iran's energy and weapons sectors. The House of Representatives passed the bill on September 17, 2026, by a vote of 262 to 159, after the Senate passed it in August 2026.
The Act works by imposing primary and secondary sanctions on Russia and actors supporting its war in Ukraine, targeting Russian officials, oligarchs, banks, and the "Shadow Fleet". A key mechanism grants the U.S. President the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on goods from the top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas. This provision is particularly relevant to India, which is one of the largest buyers of Russian crude oil. The Act also includes a provision to extend sanctions on Iran's energy and weapons sectors, which were originally set to lapse. The President may waive the sanctions if he certifies to Congress that it is in the national interests of the U.S..
This Act connects to the earlier Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) of 2017, which is a U.S. federal law that also imposed sanctions on Russia, Iran, and North Korea. While the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 is a new, specific piece of legislation, it expands on the existing framework of U.S. sanctions policy, particularly by introducing the mechanism of tariffs on major energy importers. The new Act also explicitly extends the sanction authority for Iran's energy and weapons sectors, preventing a lapse in that authority.