U.S. House passes sweeping Russia and Iran sanctions bill, sending it to Trump

Why it matters

The bill combines mandatory personal and sectoral sanctions on Russia with an extraterritorial tariff tool aimed at the largest remaining buyers of Russian energy. If signed, it would be the most expansive U.S. sanctions legislation on Russia since the start of the full-scale war and the first major Congressional Ukraine-related action in roughly two years. Its enforcement decisions — especially which countries are designated under Section 113 — will shape the cost of Russian oil and gas, the trajectory of U.S.-China and U.S.-India trade ties, and the political space for any negotiation on Ukraine.

What happened

On September 16, 2026 (the night of September 17 Kyiv time), the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by 262 votes in favor and 159 against. The Senate had approved the bill on August 7, 86–11. The legislation is named after the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who co-authored it with Senator Richard Blumenthal (Democrat) before his death in July 2026; Senator Darlene Graham Nordon, Graham's sister and now South Carolina's senator, has been mentioned in connection with a possible signing ceremony.

The bill mandates sanctions on Russia's senior leadership, including Vladimir Putin, on oligarchs and members of their families, and on Russian banks, energy companies and the shadow fleet of tankers. It also continues and expands existing sanctions on Iran. Section 113 authorizes the U.S. president to impose tariffs of up to 100% on imports from any country that is among the top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas and continues such purchases; rates can be adjusted if a country reduces or stops imports, and countries buying less than 15% of Russian gas exports that have taken meaningful steps to cut imports are exempt.

The White House confirmed that President Donald Trump plans to sign the bill, with media reporting the signing could come within days. Reactions split sharply: Ukraine's Foreign Ministry and presidential office welcomed the measure; Russia's Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called it an 'unfriendly step' that would complicate a peaceful settlement; China's foreign ministry called the bill an unacceptable imposition of extraterritorial jurisdiction; India warned of damage to bilateral relations; Germany's foreign minister welcomed it; and Hungary's Márton Hajdu asked U.S. partners for an exemption given Hungary's dependence on Russian energy.

How Ukrainian sources describe it

Ukrainian sources frame the legislation as a major diplomatic and economic victory. Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called it the right response to Russia's refusal to stop its terror, while sanctions commissioner Vladyslav Vlasiuk described it as 'hellish' sanctions and highlighted that 262 House members voted in favor. Coverage emphasizes that Russian oil and gas revenues finance missiles, drones and foreign components, and links the new law to Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil refining as a complementary pressure tool. Some Ukrainian analysts are more cautious: Oleksandr Khara of the Center for Defense Strategies noted that Trump already has broad executive authority to impose economic restrictions and that adoption of the bill does not guarantee it will be applied against Russia in practice.

How international sources describe it

Reactions from third countries diverge. Germany welcomed the bill as a clear signal that every revenue source funding Russia's war could become a U.S. sanctions target. China called the move an unacceptable imposition of extraterritorial jurisdiction and warned that its bilateral trade with Russia must not be disrupted by any third party. India, the world's third-largest oil importer and one of the largest buyers of Russian crude, said the law could damage bilateral relations and the international energy market and pledged to protect its economic interests. Hungary's Márton Hajdu asked U.S. partners for an exemption while Budapest works to diversify its energy supply. China's statement came ahead of an expected Xi Jinping–Trump summit in Washington the following week.

Where reporting differs

Three fault lines run through the coverage. First, on effectiveness: Ukrainian officials and former U.S. diplomat Daniel Fried describe the bill as a powerful tool and a chance for 'punishment for Putin,' while Russian reaction frames it as complicating peace efforts and Ukrainian expert Oleksandr Khara argues Trump already has the executive authority to act and adoption does not guarantee the law will actually be applied. Second, on domestic U.S. politics: House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Congressman Gregory Meeks opposed the bill, arguing it gives the White House excessive tariff authority and contains loopholes, yet 58 House Democrats broke with Jeffries and voted in favor. Third, on international response: China and India sharply criticized the law, Hungary asked for an exemption, Germany welcomed it, and Russia called it an 'unfriendly step.'

Background

The tariff mechanism in Section 113 is limited to the top five importers of Russian oil and gas, with built-in adjustment clauses if countries reduce or halt imports. An earlier Senate version of the bill, introduced in April 2025, had proposed 500% tariffs; the final version caps the rate at 100%. EU member states are already required to phase out Russian oil and gas purchases by the end of 2027. China–Russia bilateral trade exceeded $240 billion in 2024, with most transactions conducted in national currencies; Beijing has helped Moscow mitigate Western sanctions by purchasing Russian oil and supplying dual-use goods. India is the world's third-largest oil importer and one of the largest buyers of Russian crude. According to Politico, the bill's passage ended roughly two years without significant U.S. Congressional action on Ukraine, the last major measure having been emergency aid in 2024.