The president called for lawmakers to expand a newly revised Russia sanctions bill to cover Iran, though he did not specify what additional penalties he wants Congress to impose.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom.
President Donald Trump called on Congress Sunday to add Iran to a bipartisan sanctions package targeting Russia, signaling that he wants lawmakers to supplement the administration’s existing economic restrictions on Tehran with new statutory penalties.
Trump issued the request in a Truth Social post concerning legislation originally championed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
“That’s what Lindsey wanted to do, and it was going to happen. IMPORTANT!!!” Trump wrote.
The president did not describe how Iran should be incorporated into the proposal or identify the industries, officials or financial networks that any new sanctions should target.
His statement came one day after the State Department issued a worldwide caution advising Americans to remain alert to the possibility of further escalation involving Iran. The advisory warned that organizations supportive of Tehran could strike U.S. interests or locations associated with Americans abroad.
Washington already maintains an extensive sanctions system against Iran through federal statutes and executive orders covering the country’s energy exports, banks, shipping operations, weapons programs and defense-related entities.
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control administers much of that program and has continued announcing additional Iran-related designations.
On July 10, Treasury imposed sanctions on Iranian financier Ali Ansari and several currency exchange businesses accused of moving billions of dollars for sanctioned Iranian banks.
Federal officials said the transactions were routed through shell companies intended to obscure the Iranian regime’s financial activity and help restricted institutions retain access to international markets.
Trump’s proposal would place additional congressional action against Iran within the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026, introduced July 16 by Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Darline Graham, R-S.C.
The revised measure has more than 60 Republican and Democratic cosponsors.
Lawmakers named the bill in honor of Lindsey Graham, who died July 11, and presented it as a continuation of his effort to increase economic pressure on Moscow over the war in Ukraine.
Graham introduced an earlier version in April 2025. That proposal was referred to the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee but did not advance beyond the panel.
The updated bill emerged after lawmakers and Trump administration officials raised concerns about the scope of the original sanctions.
Some members of Congress warned that broad secondary sanctions could unintentionally damage the economies of important U.S. allies that continue conducting certain transactions involving Russia.
The administration also sought authority allowing the president to waive or suspend penalties when doing so would serve the national interest, preserving flexibility during negotiations or changing international conditions.
Blumenthal said the revised legislation was intended to intensify pressure on Russia at a decisive point in the war.
“Ukraine is at a critical crossroads—and we must meet this pivotal moment with a powerful sanctions bill,” Blumenthal said in a July 16 statement.
“As Ukraine turns the tide on the battlefield, our Russia sanctions bill would be historically impactful in stopping Russia’s murderous slaughter. … Sanctions provide a path toward peace. Our bill is the product of lengthy, detailed, difficult bipartisan work, and now has broad bipartisan support.”
Trump’s latest request introduces Iran into a bill that had been constructed primarily around Russia’s military campaign and the governments, companies and financial institutions supporting Moscow.
It remains unclear whether the bill’s sponsors will amend the measure, introduce separate Iran provisions or seek additional guidance from the White House before moving forward.
The president’s statement nevertheless indicates that the administration wants Congress to play a larger role in applying economic pressure to Tehran alongside sanctions already imposed through executive authority.
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