Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the late Sen. Lindsey Graham never raised concerns about adding Iran to a Russia sanctions bill.
The discrepancy challenges a public claim made by President Donald Trump regarding the motivations and preferences of a key legislative ally. Because the bill grants significant economic leverage to the executive branch, the disagreement over its origins suggests friction regarding the scope of U.S. foreign policy.
Speaking during an interview on Bloomberg This Weekend, Shaheen addressed the contradictions surrounding the legislation. She said Graham did not voice concerns about the inclusion of Iran in the bill, which opposes statements made by President Trump on Truth Social. The president had previously stated that Graham wanted Iran added to the Russian sanctions measure.
The legislation in question is designed to increase pressure on Moscow and those supporting its war efforts. According to reports, the bill would provide the president with expanded authority to penalize foreign entities. Specifically, tariffs of up to 100% [1] could be imposed on the largest purchasers of Russian oil under the terms of the bill.
Shaheen's comments come as the U.S. continues to navigate complex sanctions regimes involving both Russia and Iran. The late Sen. Graham had been a champion of the bill, which seeks to tighten the economic loop around Russian energy exports. The dispute over whether Graham specifically sought the addition of Iran highlights a rift in the narrative between the White House and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The bill's primary mechanism relies on these high-percentage tariffs to deter global markets from funding the Russian state. By targeting the largest buyers of oil, the U.S. aims to degrade the Kremlin's ability to finance military operations. However, the political framing of who pushed for which targets remains a point of contention between the president and legislative leaders.
“Graham never raised concerns about adding Iran to the Russia sanctions bill.”
This contradiction reflects a struggle over the political legacy and intent behind the Russia sanctions bill. While the technical focus remains on crippling Russian oil revenue through aggressive tariffs, the disagreement over the inclusion of Iran indicates a push-and-pull between the executive branch's desire to expand the target list and the legislative record of the bill's architects.
