House Rules Committee Advances Russia and Iran Sanctions Bill

The House Rules Committee approved the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 on September 14, moving the legislation toward a full House floor vote. The bill, which passed the Senate 86-11 on August 7, targets Russian officials, financial institutions, and the shadow fleet used to evade oil sanctions. It also extends the Iran Sanctions Act for five years.

Donald Trump would receive expanded authority to impose visa and property-blocking sanctions on Vladimir Putin and Russian military commanders. A central point of contention is the provision allowing the president to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent—and in some versions up to 500 percent—on countries that consume Russian energy, specifically targeting major purchasers like China and India. Speaker Mike Johnson indicated he may fast-track the bill for a vote before a seven-week recess begins this Thursday.

House Democrats have expressed concern that these broad tariff powers could increase inflation for American consumers and be used against U.S. allies. Some lawmakers proposed amendments to either explicitly name the countries eligible for tariffs or scrap the tariff authority entirely in favor of direct loans to Ukraine. Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the swift passage of the measure to deprive the Kremlin of war financing, arguing that a not-so-perfect decision is preferable to inaction.