The story

The Senate voted 86-12 on Tuesday evening to advance the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, clearing the first procedural hurdle for legislation championed by the late South Carolina senator. The vote came hours after Graham's funeral service in Washington, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attended. Eleven Democrats and one Republican, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, voted against the measure.

The bill targets Russian oil and gas sales, which supporters say fuel Vladimir Putin's war machine, and extends existing sanctions against Iran's energy and weapons sectors. It would give President Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major purchasers of Russian oil and gas, including countries such as China and India, and up to 500% tariffs on Russian imports. The legislation also targets Russian officials, oligarchs, financial institutions, and Russia's shadow fleet used to evade sanctions.

The revised bill requires the president to impose sanctions rather than simply permitting him to do so, though Trump could waive them if he certified it was necessary for national security reasons. Negotiators added requirements that the administration regularly report to Congress on how the penalties were being carried out. The Senate is set to leave town on August 7 for a month, and the House, already away until August 31, must pass the legislation before it reaches Trump's desk.