The U.S. House of Representatives on August 10 approved a motion to advance a sweeping package of sanctions against Russia and Iran, just days after the Senate approved it by an overwhelming majority (86 to 11), thereby opening the next phase of Congress’s efforts to suppress Moscow’s war economy and give President Donald Trump additional leverage to pressure Russia into agreeing to negotiations with Ukraine, RFE/RL reports, according to UNN.
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The move, the outlet writes, came remarkably quickly—while the House of Representatives is on its August recess—as a broad bipartisan group introduced an amendment to the Lindsey Graham Sanctions Against Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which was passed by the Senate.
The legislation approved by the House of Representatives, the outlet writes, is identical to the version passed by the Senate last week.
The bill, named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, would target Russian banks, energy revenues, oligarchs, the Kremlin-linked "shadow fleet," sanctions-evasion networks, as well as foreign governments and companies that help sustain Moscow’s war against Ukraine. It would also extend longstanding sanctions against Iran through 2031.
The House’s swift action, the outlet notes, gives supporters a chance to capitalize on the Senate vote’s overwhelming bipartisan support, but it also sets up potentially difficult debates over the bill’s tariff provisions and the extent of presidential powers over countries that continue to purchase Russian energy.
A spokesperson for Graham previously said that the senator called it "the sanctions bill from hell."
The U.S. Senate backed a bill on “hellish” sanctions against Russia and Iran — media07.08.26, 20:30