U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Republicans should expand a sweeping, bipartisan Russia sanctions bill to include penalties against Iran.
In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, July 19, 2026, Trump noted that the addition would honor the legislative vision of the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who suddenly passed away days prior after championing the original bill.
Taking to Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Republicans should add Iran to the Russian Sanctions Bill. That’s what Lindsey wanted to do, and it was going to happen.”
The sweeping legislation backed by a bipartisan coalition of over 60 senators is designed to aggressively choke off Russia’s war economy.
Its provisions include mandatory sanctions on senior leadership, targeting Russia’s shadow fleet of tankers, and allowing Trump to levy up to 100% tariffs on major global buyers of Russian oil and gas.
The bill is the result of nearly two years of painstaking compromise between Senate leaders and the White House.
Key Democrats, including Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), have urged Congress to pass the bill as-is rather than risk sinking it by reopening negotiations to add Iran, warning that doing so could stall its narrow window for passage.
As reported by Time, the bill represents a massive shift, as it would mark the first time Congress explicitly authorizes the use of tariffs as a direct geopolitical weapon.
If Republicans move forward with Trump’s request to fold Iran into the bill, it could reshape Washington’s broader Middle East strategy but may complicate the bill’s momentum in the House.
