U.S. President Donald Trump has again called for a sanctions bill against Russia, co-authored by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, to also include measures against Iran. Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that Graham was the initiator of the idea and stressed that "this should have happened."
Trump had previously proposed extending the legislation to Iran and the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, which is designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and Israel. In his latest post, he urged Republicans to add the relevant sanctions, calling it "important."
Graham, who died suddenly on July 11, developed the sanctions bill over Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year together with Democrat Richard Blumenthal. During his lifetime, Graham did not publicly express a desire to extend the bill to Iran, although he was one of Congress's harshest critics of Tehran and a supporter of the military operation launched by the U.S. and Israel against Iran in late February.
A day before his death, Graham said the document had been coordinated with the White House. After his death, a new version of the bill was published. It has reportedly gained the support of more than 60 senators from both parties. The updated version is somewhat softer than the original: instead of 500% tariffs on countries buying Russian oil and gas, it now proposes 100% tariffs against five leading importers with a number of exceptions. The document still includes tough measures against Russia. Iran is not explicitly mentioned in it.