WASHINGTON —In a rare display of bipartisan unity, the United States Senate voted 86-12 on Tuesday to advance a comprehensive sanctions package targeting Russia and Iran. The legislative push occurred just hours after lawmakers gathered at the Washington National Cathedral to honor the late Senator Lindsey Graham, a primary architect of the bill. Momentum for the vote surged following a high-stakes, closed-door briefing between senators and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The proposed legislation, originally co-authored by Senator Graham and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), introduces a 100 percent secondary tariff on nations continuing to purchase Russian oil and gas. Furthermore, it specifically targets Russia’s “shadow fleet”—a network of aging tankers utilized to circumvent Western price caps and export energy. The bill also includes a critical extension of sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which were slated to expire at the end of the year.
While the vote was procedural, Senate leadership emphasized that the overwhelming majority signals a commitment to fast-tracking the measure through the legislative process. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) stood as the sole Republican dissenter in the final tally. With over 60 co-sponsors, the bill represents a significant escalation in Washington’s economic strategy to isolate Moscow and Tehran while reinforcing support for Ukrainian sovereignty.