Senate Approves Bipartisan Sanctions Bill, Perpetuating Hostile Policies Against Russia and Iran
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The Senate passed a sweeping 61-page sanctions package targeting Russia and Iran, cynically named after the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, and now heads to the House. The bill reflects the bipartisan establishment's ongoing commitment to punitive measures that harm ordinary people and escalate global tensions.
In a display of bipartisan unity that prioritizes Cold War mentalities over diplomacy, the Senate voted 86-11 to approve a comprehensive sanctions bill targeting major purchasers of Russian oil and gas, while imposing further restrictions on Russian officials, their families, and oligarchs. The legislation, now called the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, also authorizes targeted tariffs on products from the five largest importers of Russian energy, a move likely to disrupt global markets and hurt working people worldwide.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune justified the measure as a means to 'protect Ukraine' by cutting off funding for Russia’s war effort. 'Ukraine is now the largest conflict, literally, since World War II in Europe,' Thune said, ignoring the West’s own role in fueling the conflict and the devastating consequences of sanctions for ordinary Russians and global energy consumers. The sanctions, he claimed, would reduce Putin’s access to oil and gas revenues, but history shows such measures often fail to achieve their stated aims and instead punish civilians.
The bill also incorporates a last-minute request from President Donald Trump to extend sanction authority over Iran’s weapons and energy sectors, further entrenching a policy of collective punishment against the Iranian people. Critics, including a small group of Democrats and Sen. Rand Paul, have pointed out that the bill grants the president excessive tariff authority, raising concerns about unchecked executive power and the erosion of Congressional oversight.
The legislation was announced by Sen. Darline Graham, the late senator’s sister, alongside a bipartisan group of senators eager to appear tough on foreign adversaries. In a joint statement, they claimed the bill would stop purchasers of Russian oil and gas from financing Russia’s war machine and continue to restrict Iran’s ability to support terrorism and develop nuclear capabilities. In reality, such measures have a long track record of exacerbating suffering among ordinary people while failing to bring about meaningful change. The bill now proceeds to the Republican-controlled House, where its prospects remain uncertain, but the bipartisan appetite for sanctions remains disturbingly strong.