Trump Signs Sweeping “Sanctions From Hell” Bill Against Russia Into Law

US President Donald Trump signed sweeping legislation into law targeting Russia’s energy, defense, and maritime sectors, the White House announced on September 18.

Formally designated as the “Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026,” often referred to as the “sanctions bill from hell,” the law was named in honor of the South Carolina Republican Senator who died in July after being a long-standing advocate for aggressive economic measures against Moscow.

The bill gained final congressional approval after passing the House of Representatives on Wednesday following its passage in the Senate last month.

The landmark legislation specifically targets Russia’s primary revenue streams by imposing secondary economic measures on third-party entities and allowing the president to levy tariffs on foreign nations that continue to purchase Russian energy exports, Reuters wrote.

It also targets Russia’s defense industrial base, major financial institutions, and the illicit “shadow fleet” of tankers used to circumvent international oil price caps.

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War in Ukraine

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Critics and foreign policy analysts noted that the legislation grants the executive branch broad discretionary authority, enabling the president to impose secondary tariffs that could remain in place far beyond his administration. Despite these concerns, supporters emphasized that restricting Kremlin revenues is essential to weakening Russia’s war economy as the invasion of Ukraine continues, according to Reuters.

The Russia sanctions bill was previously stalled in the US House of Representatives due to opposition from corporate lobbying groups and concerns regarding expanded tariff powers.

After overwhelmingly clearing the Senate with an 86–11 bipartisan vote, the bill encountered significant resistance from corporate giants—including ExxonMobil, General Electric, Ford, and Pfizer—over potential tariff impacts on American consumers.

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