On the evening of July 28, the US Senate voted to move forward with a major package of sanctions against Russia and Iran. The vote was 86 in favor and only 12 were against.
This bill is already being called “hellish sanctions.” Its main author was Senator Lindsey Graham, who recently passed away. The vote took place on the same day as his memorial service in Washington.
What is planned:
Introduce high tariffs (up to 100%) on goods from countries that actively buy Russian oil and gas. This mainly targets China and India.
Crack down on Russia’s “shadow fleet” — aging tankers used to ship oil while dodging sanctions.
Punish Russian officials, oligarchs, and banks linked to the war.
Extend existing sanctions against Iran until 2031.
The bill received support from both Republicans and Democrats. Only 12 senators voted against it. US President Donald Trump also supports the measure. This is not the final decision yet. The Senate still needs to hold several more votes, and then the bill must pass the House of Representatives. If everything goes successfully, the sanctions will become law.