U.S. President Donald Trump’s regulation, signed on Friday, put into effect a comprehensive sanctions law targeting Russia and Iran. The White House announced that Trump had signed it.
The law targets Russia’s energy and defense sectors, as well as its “shadow fleet” of tankers that circumvent existing sanctions. The regulation aims to reduce revenue sources that Russia is said to use to finance its war in Ukraine.
Authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on China and India
Trump is also granted the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on China, India and other countries. The authority could be used to reduce those countries’ dependence on Russian oil and natural gas.
The regulation also allows sanctions on Iran to be expanded. Democrats opposed the tariff authority added to the law.
Law carries Graham’s name
The law was named the “Lindsey O. Graham 2026 Sanctions on Russia and Iran Act” in memory of Lindsey O. Graham, the Republican senator from South Carolina who died in July.
Graham, who had long been known for his hard-line stance on Russia, was among the regulation’s strong supporters. The bill passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday and the Senate last month.
Kremlin says peace talks will become more difficult
Critics of the law argued that Trump already had the authority needed to impose sanctions on Russia but had chosen not to use it.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said earlier in the week that the new U.S. sanctions would make it more difficult to reach a peace agreement in Ukraine. Peskov said they were monitoring the law’s progress and that additional U.S. sanctions would certainly complicate efforts to seek a peace agreement in Ukraine.
