Senate passes Russia and Iran sanctions bill named for late Sen. Lindsey Graham

The U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan sanctions bill targeting Russia and Iran on Friday, August 7, 2026, by an 86-11 vote. The legislation, renamed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act, was championed by Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, whose death spurred renewed momentum to pass the measure. The bill aims to penalize countries that continue purchasing Russian oil, gas, and other exports, seeking to reduce revenues funding Russia's war in Ukraine, and also includes sanctions provisions targeting Iran. Rand Paul of Kentucky was the sole Republican to vote against the bill, joined by 10 Democrats in opposition. Multiple outlets note the Senate had worked on this legislation for more than a year before its passage, with earlier reporting in early August indicating the bill was still making progress amid concerns over provisions granting President Trump new tariff authorities. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. The legislation faces what multiple outlets describe as a potentially difficult path in the House, expected to be taken up in September, though the precise obstacles or timeline for House action remain unspecified in current reporting. Details about how the tariff authority provisions were ultimately resolved in the Senate version, and whether they will affect the bill's reception in the House, are not fully clarified across the available reports.