WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 — U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday signed a Russia sanctions bill into law, according to a White House release.
Named the “Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026,” the act authorizes and expands statutory sanctions, tariffs and prohibitions on Russia and extends existing sanctions on Iran, the release said.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill on Wednesday after the Senate passed it on Aug. 7. The measure would impose sanctions on Russian officials, banks and vessels used to transport Russian energy.
It also authorizes Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on goods from the five largest importers of Russian oil or natural gas.
The measure also extends the Iran Sanctions Act by five years, maintaining sanctions targeting Iran’s energy and weapons sectors.
The act is seen as a legacy of late Senator Lindsey Graham, who pushed for the legislation and passed away in July after a brief and sudden illness.
Legislators in the House of Representatives were more divided over the act in comparison with the Senate. A recent joint statement by three Democratic members in the House of Representatives said the act “would do more harm than good,” and would “dramatically expand presidential tariff authorities while failing to mandate sanctions on Russia.” (Namibia Daily News / Xinhua)
