U.S. Senate advances sanctions bill targeting Russian-Iranian oil buyers, including India and China
The U.S. Senate has advanced a bipartisan bill that would allow the President to impose sanctions on major buyers of Russian and Iranian oil, specifically naming India and China. The legislation aims to disrupt funding for Russia's war efforts in Ukraine.
Why it matters
This bill represents a significant escalation in U.S. foreign policy pressure on major economies that continue to trade with sanctioned nations.
The U.S. Senate, in a show of bipartisanship, has voted overwhelmingly to fast-track a bill that would allow U.S. President Donald Trump to impose sanctions on major buyers of oil from Russia and Iran, which would affect countries such as India and China.
The Senate voted 86-12 on Tuesday (July 28, 2026) to invoke the cloture motion to advance the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, hours after they gathered to bid a final farewell to the Senator from South Carolina, who passed away on July 11.
Cloture is a formal procedure of the Senate to set a time limit for the debate and related actions on an issue before it is put to a final vote.
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