The House of Representatives approved a comprehensive sanctions bill on Wednesday aimed at cutting off financial support for Russia’s war in Ukraine and extending pressure on Iran’s energy and weapons sectors. The measure, known as the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, passed by a 262 to 159 vote and now heads to President Donald Trump, who has indicated he will sign it into law.

Named in honor of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who passed away in July after more than a year of advocacy for the legislation, the bill seeks to impose broad new penalties on Moscow. Central to the measure is the authority granted to the president to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas, including major customers such as China and India. The legislation also targets entities, including officials, oligarchs, and financial institutions, involved in supporting Russia’s military efforts.

The bill includes provisions to address Iran’s military and energy sectors, extending existing sanctions for an additional five years amid concerns over Tehran’s close alliance with Moscow. This reflects congressional efforts to simultaneously tighten economic restrictions on both countries.

The sanctions legislation comes after a challenging legislative process marked by early resistance from President Trump, who initially opposed congressional restrictions on his ability to engage with Russia. Senator Graham played a pivotal role in navigating negotiations between Capitol Hill and the White House before his passing. The Senate approved the measure overwhelmingly last month, and despite some hesitancy among House members, the bill ultimately secured bipartisan support.

However, some Democrats expressed reservations, particularly about granting the president expanded tariff powers. Critics argued that the provision could be used beyond the scope of targeting Russia by giving the executive branch broad authority on trade matters without further congressional oversight. Representative Gregory W. Meeks, the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, advocated for increased military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine instead of expanding the president’s tariff authority, cautioning against potential broader economic impacts on Americans.

Proponents of the bill, including Republican Representative Michael McCaul of Texas, emphasized that the tariff authority was crucial to effectively cutting off Russia’s energy revenues, which have helped sustain its military operations. They noted that previous sanctions had failed to fully stem Russia’s exports due to sophisticated evasion tactics, including the use of a “shadow fleet" of vessels circumventing restrictions. The bill allows for exemptions for countries heavily reliant on Russian natural gas but actively reducing their dependence.

Supporters also pointed out that the powers granted to the president are specifically restricted to addressing countries involved in purchasing Russian energy or aiding sanctions evasion. Lawmakers from both parties described the bill as a necessary step to send a strong message to Moscow amid an intensified conflict in Ukraine, including recent Russian strikes on transportation and energy infrastructure near the Polish border.

The vote took place as fighting in Ukraine has escalated, with Russia targeting key infrastructure, including a recent drone strike on a passenger train near Poland that occurred shortly after a train carrying former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European officials passed through the area. No casualties were reported in that incident, and Russian officials said the strike aimed at military logistics.

Overall, the legislation represents a significant escalation in U.S. economic measures aiming to weaken Russia’s capacity to fund its ongoing military offensive while also addressing related security concerns involving Iran.