President Trump on Friday signed a sweeping Russia and Iran sanctions bill championed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) into law, the White House announced.
The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 targets Russian oil and gas exports that have been fueling Vladimir Putin’s long and bloody war against Ukraine and extends existing sanctions against Iran’s energy and weapons sectors.
The legislation cleared the House of Representatives on Wednesday in a 262–159 vote.
It previously passed the Senate in a 86-11 vote.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Trump for signing the bill and praised Graham’s push for it in a social media post.
“When Lindsey Graham was here in Ukraine, he would always talk about how important it was not to ease pressure on Russia, to strengthen sanctions and seek a path to peace,” Zelensky wrote on X. “In particular, in those capitals that choose to buy Russian oil, provide financial services to Russia, and allow Russian companies linked to Putin and the war to engage in normal business relations in other countries.
“Senator Graham never doubted for a second that America has enough strength to stand up to dictators and achieve results if it acts THE RIGHT WAY.”
He continued, “I thank President Trump for signing this critically important legislation.”
Zelensky also thanked the lawmakers that supported the legislation and called for it to be implemented as soon as possible.
“The best way to honor Lindsey’s memory will be to implement the provisions of this law fully and swiftly,” he wrote.
The legislation allows the Trump administration to impose targeted tariffs of up to 100% on the largest importers of Russian crude oil or natural gas. It also renews sanctions on Iran set to expire after the end of this year.
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), who led the fight for passage in the House, said the bill “will force” Russian President Vladimir Putin to “the negotiating table.”
“Evil is on the march, history is calling, and now is the time to act,” he said on the House floor Wednesday, adding that the bill will keep Putin’s ambitions in check, preventing him from marching into more of Eastern Europe.
“Lindsey Graham once said this bill would be his great achievement,” McCaul noted. “I can think of no better way … to honor his life and his legacy than by passing these tough sanctions.”
