The US Senate has passed a sweeping Russia sanctions bill that could expose major buyers of Russian energy, including India, to tariffs of up to 100 per cent, although India is not specifically named in the legislation.
The Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 cleared the Senate by an 86-11 vote and now moves to the House of Representatives, where senior Democrats have raised objections to provisions granting the administration broad tariff powers.
Instead of naming countries, the bill directs the US administration to identify them using trade data. It covers the five largest importers of Russian crude oil, the five largest importers of Russian natural gas and five countries identified as facilitating the evasion of sanctions on Russian oil. The determinations would be based on the latest 12-month trade data and reviewed every 180 days.
India, China and Brazil were specifically mentioned by Republican Senator Deb Fischer while endorsing the legislation, although her statement does not form part of the bill’s statutory text.
“The Kremlin’s war machine runs on the money it makes from selling cheap oil and gas to countries like China, India, and Brazil,” Fischer said, arguing that major purchasers of Russian energy should face pressure to reduce their dependence on Moscow.
The proposed legislation also provides for primary and secondary sanctions against Russian officials, oligarchs and their families, banks and financial institutions. It targets foreign entities supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine and the so-called shadow fleet used to transport oil and circumvent sanctions.
The bill would further extend the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 until 2031, retaining penalties on companies investing in Iran’s energy sector.
An amendment seeking to remove the tariff provisions was defeated 32-64. Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock withdrew his hold after US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer gave a written commitment that the administration would implement the legislation as written.
Warnock said Russia must be held accountable but cautioned against granting excessive tariff powers to the President.
The bill’s future remains uncertain in the House, which is currently in recess until August 31. House Democrats Gregory Meeks and Don Beyer have described the present text as unacceptable, citing the breadth of the proposed tariff authority and presidential waiver powers.
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