Trump urges Republicans to include Iran in Russia sanctions bill

US President Donald Trump has called on Republican lawmakers to include Iran in a proposed sanctions bill targeting Russia.

“Republicans should add Iran to the Russian Sanctions Bill. That’s what Lindsey wanted to do, and it was going to happen. IMPORTANT!!!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

The proposed Russia sanctions bill is a bipartisan measure, aimed at pressuring Russia to end its war in Ukraine by targeting countries that buy Russian oil and gas.

It was first introduced in 2025 by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, with broad Senate support, but faced delays as lawmakers sought White House backing and adjusted details like tariff levels (capped in the updated version).

The legislation gives the president flexibility to impose or waive sanctions/tariffs on major Russian energy buyers (such as China and India) while also hitting Russian officials, energy, and defense sectors.

It gained new momentum in mid-2026 with Trump administration agreement, especially after Graham's sudden death, as a way to honor his long push for stronger measures against Russia.

By Jeyhun Aghazada