President Donald Trump signed legislation imposing new sanctions on Russia and locking in five years of punitive economic measures against Iran.
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President Donald Trump on Friday signed into law the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, a bill imposing fresh sanctions on Russia and extending existing punitive economic measures against Iran for five years. The legislation, dubbed the "sanctions from hell" by American press, authorizes expanded tariffs, prohibitions, and statutory sanctions on Moscow while cementing the current sanctions regime against Tehran.
The bill passed the House of Representatives this week after clearing the Senate early last month. It is named in honor of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, a longtime Russia critic and Iran hawk who died earlier this year.
In a separate development, US troop deaths during the Iran war exceed the Pentagon's official count by at least four, according to a Washington Post report. The discrepancy was reported by Reuters on Thursday.
The US also removed sanctions on the Eritrean Defense Forces, the Treasury website showed on Thursday, marking a shift in Washington\'s approach to the East African nation.
Sources: 1. The National: Trump signs Lindsey Graham Russia-Iran sanctions bill into law — https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/us/2026/09/18/trump-russia-iran-sanctions-bill/ (src1) 2. Hacker News: US troop deaths during Iran war exceed Pentagon count by at least four — https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-troop-deaths-iran-war-exceed-pentagon-count-by-least-four-washington-post-2026-09-18/ (src2) 3.