Senate Sanctons Russia and Iran

Senate Passes Bill to Impose New Sanctions on Russia and Iran

The bill must next go to a vote in the House of Representatives before the president can sign it into action.

The Senate on Aug. 7 overwhelmingly passed a bill to impose new sanctions against Russia and Iran.

In an 86–11 vote, the Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026. The bill still needs to pass a vote in the House of Representatives before it can go to President Donald Trump for his signature.

The late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who died on July 11, had sponsored legislation to raise economic sanctions on Russia, as punishment for the ongoing war in Ukraine. The bill was revised and renamed in Graham’s honor following his death.

[The Epoch times]

Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act passes Senate

Senate advances Lindsey Graham's Russia sanctions bill hours after his funeral

The U.S. Senate cleared a major procedural hurdle on the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act with an 86, 12 vote, just hours after lawmakers attended the late senator's funeral at Washington National Cathedral.

Senators filed from the cathedral to the Capitol on Tuesday and did something rare in modern Washington: they voted overwhelmingly, across party lines, to advance a sweeping sanctions package that the late South Carolina Republican had spent his final days pushing toward the finish line.

The 86, 12 tally was not close. It was a statement.

The bill bearing Graham's name targets Russian oil and gas exports, extends existing sanctions on Iran's energy and weapons sectors, and hands President Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on the five largest purchasers of Russian crude, a provision aimed squarely at China and India.

It also imposes primary and secondary sanctions on Russian officials, oligarchs, their family members, Russian banks, and the so-called Russian Shadow Fleet of tankers used to skirt existing restrictions.

Read about it...

Peace deal with Iran

Trump holds firm: no sanctions relief or unfrozen assets for Iran until a deal is done

President Donald Trump told NBC News' "Meet the Press" that the United States will not unfreeze Iranian assets or lift sanctions until a peace deal with Tehran is fully completed, rejecting Iran's demand that $24 billion in frozen funds be released as a precondition for any agreement.

The position draws a hard line at a moment when U.S. and Iranian forces are still exchanging fire, Gulf allies are absorbing missile strikes on residential areas, and Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues to choke roughly a fifth of global oil traffic.

Asked whether sanctions relief or asset releases would come before or after a deal, Trump was blunt. "Comes after," he said in the interview. Pressed on whether Iran could earn goodwill concessions ahead of a formal agreement, Trump replied:

"Yeah. If they behave, if they do a good job, we start talking. Yeah."

That framing puts the burden squarely on Tehran, and it stands in sharp contrast to the Iranian position laid out just days earlier by Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader. Rezaei told CNN that a peace deal to end the three-month-old conflict hinged on the release of $24 billion in Iranian assets frozen by the United States.

Read more...

So, it looks like Iran can play games forever.

Hasan Piker - Did he violate U.S. Sanctions on trip to Cuba

Trump admin HAMMERS Communist activist Hasan Piker for potentially violating U.S. sanctions

It FINALLY caught up with him...

The Trump admin just subpoenaed the most influential communist in America after his trip to Cuba may have violated U.S. sanctions.

Zelensky complains about the U.S. again

The United States' shift in focus to the Middle East has reduced pressure on Russia>

Zelenky said these risks prolong the war, and Moscow will not move toward peace without stronger action from Washington.

"We all want to stop this war," Zelenskyy told Newsmax's Shelby Wilder in an interview conducted at the former Chernobyl nuclear power plant on Sunday that aired Wednesday on "National Report." "The problem is that the priority for the United States has now shifted to the Middle East."

"I'm afraid that if we will have just talks, Russia will not feel the most important thing that America can give us, pressure on them," he added.

Zelenskyy said U.S. military support for Ukraine continues, even as diplomatic pressure has eased.

Read more...

It's always, somehow, the fault of the United States.

Iran continues with its Nuclear program

Iran Rejects Enrichment Halt; US Delivers New Sanctions

Iran could pay a heavy price after refusing U.S. demands to halt uranium enrichment during nuclear talks Friday in Oman, as the Trump administration imposed additional sanctions on the Islamist regime.

The State Department announced it was sanctioning 15 Iranian entities, two individuals, and 14 shadow fleet vessels linked to the illicit trade in Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products.

"These targets have generated revenue that the regime uses to conduct its malign activities," the State Department said in a news release. "Instead of investing in the welfare of its own people and crumbling infrastructure, the Iranian regime continues to fund destabilizing activities around the world and step up its repression inside Iran.

Press Release from State Dept

Trump lifts all Sanctions against Syria

Syrias' Ahmed al-Sharra

Trump Meets With Syrian Leader, Urges Him to Join Abraham Accords

On May 13, Trump announced he had ordered the cessation of U.S. sanctions against Syria, warming diplomatic relations with the country’s de facto new leaders, saying it was to “give them a fresh start.”

“It gives them a chance for greatness. The sanctions were really crippling, very powerful,” he said.

Trump said he made the decision after talking with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“It was my honor to do so,” Trump said.

After the announcement, the entire conference room erupted in a long, standing ovation.

Read more at the Epoch Times

Getting Putin more Pi$$ed off

US Imposes New Sanctions on Dozens of Russian Financial Institutions

The sanctions affect Russia’s largest remaining unsanctioned bank, Gazprombank, a major channel for Russian fossil fuel purchases.

The United States introduced sanctions on Nov. 21 against nearly 100 Russian financial institutions and 15 individuals in hopes of further constraining Moscow’s ability to wage war in Ukraine.

The Treasury Department listed 54 Russian banks and 41 securities registrars for sanctions.

The sanctions also target 11 Russian officials who work for the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (CBR), three members of the Shanghai branch of Russia’s VTB Bank Public Joint Stock Co., and the deputy managing director of the Russian Sberbank’s New Delhi branch.

Read about it...

The sanctions come as President Joe Biden’s administration (Joe probably knows nothing about it) has moved to provide Ukraine with as much financial and military support as it can before Biden’s term ends in January and of course, driving us closer to World War III.

SEC going after Elon now

SEC to Seek Sanctions Against Musk for Not Appearing for Testimony Over Twitter Acquisition

Musk’s attorney argued that his client’s absence was due to an unavoidable emergency regarding the Polaris Dawn launch.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said on Sept. 20 that in plans to pursue sanctions against Elon Musk for not attending court-ordered testimony in connection with the agency’s investigation into his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter.

The SEC stated in a filing with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, that it plans to file a motion seeking an order requiring Musk to explain why he should not be held in civil contempt for failing to comply with a May 31, 2024, court order requiring him to testify on Sept. 10 at the SEC’s Los Angeles office.

Read more...

Well, hell yeah, why not go after the wealthiest man on the planet who is helping the government bring back our stranded astronauts in space.

The SEC wants to know if Musk made timely filings when he acquired Twitter. He turned Twitter into a social media site where people had free speech. What a joke.

Is the Biden administration still going to fund Terrorist Iran?

David Friedman to Newsmax: Israel Must Press U.S. on Iran Funding

The United States and Israel have been at odds under the Biden administration — and Israel “needs to ask, Are you still going to fund Iran?" after its missile attack on Israel, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman told Newsmax.

In an interview Saturday night, Friedman, who served under former President Donald Trump, called the attack a Israel “a colossal failure.”

“The United States, the U.K., other countries have participated in coming to Israel's defense,” Friedman said. “So I think … right now there is really a common view, not just within Israel, but around, I hope, the rest of the world that Israel needs to respond.”

He also noted the “first question Israel needs to ask the United States is, Are you still going to fund Iran after all this?” “In the last six months, I can think of — just off the top of my head — more than $26 billion of sanctions relief, of cash transfers that we permitted,” he said.

Read about it...

Ted Cruz goes HOG WILD on Biden nominee weenie, this was BRUTAL

Judge fines Trump and his lawyer for a 'frivolous' suit against his political foes

Trump Attorney Alina Habba was sanctioned $938,000 by a leftist judge she never even met for telling the truth

Alina joined Ed Henry and Karyn Turk on American Sunrise.

Alina Habba: So Special Counsel Jack Smith reports to Merrick Garland. It’s one twisted thing. You would think that it’s… You know, they give the impression that they’ve hired this Special Counsel, he’s completely – independent. That’s not accurate. It’s not accurate. He reports to Merrick Garland. And who does Merrick Garland report to? Joe Biden!

Ed Henry: You were going after the origins of Russiagate, Hillary Clinton’s campaign and the lies and don’t lie to the FISA court.

Alina Habba: And I got sanctioned a million dollars for something that ended up being 100% true.

Click to see video

U.S. Department of the Treasury Press Release

With Over 300 Sanctions, U.S. Targets Russia’s Circumvention and Evasion, Military-Industrial Supply Chains, and Future Energy Revenues

May 19--
The United States, in coordination with the G7 and other international partners, is strengthening the unprecedented global sanctions and other restrictive economic measures to further degrade the Russian Federation’s capacity to wage war against Ukraine. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is implementing new commitments made at the G7 Leaders’ Summit to hold Russia accountable for its war.

“From the beginning of President Putin’s illegal and unprovoked war, our global coalition has focused on supporting Ukraine while degrading Russia’s ability to conduct its invasion,” said Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen. “Our collective efforts have cut Russia off from key inputs it needs to equip its military and is drastically limiting the revenue the Kremlin receives to fund its war machine. Today’s actions will further tighten the vise on Putin’s ability to wage his barbaric invasion and will advance our global efforts to cut off Russian attempts to evade sanctions.”

Read the Presser

Biden and his new Nuclear Deal with Terrorist Iran

House Republicans Plan to Stop New Iran Nuclear Deal

Congressional Republicans are preparing to pass bills aimed at killing off the Biden administration's attempt to revive a nuclear deal with Iran.

Sources familiar with the project told The Washington Free Beacon that six bills sponsored by the Republican Study Committee (RSC) would be rolled out starting Friday and into next week.

The bills would target Iran's military, government leaders, and financial sector, removing the Biden administration's authority to lift sanctions on Tehran unilaterally.

One measure from Rep. John James, R- Mich., would deem any agreement with Iran a formal treaty requiring congressional approval.

Biden is working to re-enter the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action signed under former President Barack Obama, which eased sanctions and provided monetary incentives for Iran's nuclear non-proliferation.

Joe has never grasped as to whom the enemy is.

Read more about it...

Biden plans on easing China Sanctions

Biden Admin. Planning to Ease Chinese Tariffs to Help Inflation

A country that has threatened us with nuclear war

With few principles left, the Biden Administration is planning to kill two birds with one stone.

To ease record inflation, the Biden White House is reportedly planning to ease tariffs on China a move that would also be a direct hit to former President Trump’s legacy. We will then be able to buy cheap goods from China made with slave labor.

Some of the tariffs, imposed by former President Donald Trump, affect household goods that could be purchased more cheaply from China and were even praised as being “highly effective” by Biden’s Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said

Read more...

More Revelations from Hunter's Laptop

Revealed: Hunter Biden Flew to Moscow to Meet Now-Sanctioned Russian Oligarch

• Emails obtained by DailyMail.com reveal Hunter Biden had courted Vladimir Yevtushenkov, a Russian oligarch with close ties to Putin

• The billionaire, 73, owns a company which has reportedly supplied Putin's forces with drones used for deadly bombings in Ukraine

• He was sanctioned by the UK and Australia this month but remains unsanctioned by the Biden administration

• The president's son and his now-jailed business partner Devon Archer sought an investment from the billionaire in Rosemont Realty in 2012 and 2013

• Emails from his abandoned laptop show Hunter booked a trip to Moscow for a dinner with the oligarch at his company Sistema's headquarters in February 2012

• A Sistema itinerary translated from Russian also showed a March 14, 2012 'breakfast with Hunter Biden' at the Ritz-Carlton in New York

• The following day, Yevtushenkov had another 'breakfast with Rosemont Realty' at the city's Ritz-Carlton on March 15, according to the itinerary

Hunter Biden flew to Moscow for a meeting with a now-sanctioned Russian oligarch with reportedly close ties to Vladimir Putin, laptop files reveal.

Read more...

Putin outsmarting the EU and the United States

Russia Hits Back Against Worldwide Sanctions with Sanction of Their Own Against Us

"Euro gets approximately 40% of their gas from Russia which equates to somewhere between 200 to 800 million euros per day in spending. So if Russia decided to completely cut off Europe, first of all it wouldn’t be smart for Russia because they wouldn’t have that income coming in but also because Europe would not be able to get the amount of gas that they need in order to run day-to-day operations throughout the entire continent.

Knowing all of this, Russia has decided to demand that Europe pay for their gas in Rubles. And actually this doesn’t just apply to Europe. This actually applies to all 48 “unfriendly” nations throughout the world which includes the United States, Japan, Switzerland, Norway as well as several others."

This is just another in the series of disastrous decisions by Joe Biden by cutting off our oil independence the moment he entered office. This Russian sanction could bring down our economy beyond recovery.

Just another example of Trump was right!

Read about it...

Putin Retaliates with his own Sanctions

Russia Sanctions Hillary and Hunter in Retaliation for US Penalties

Russian President Vladimir Putin is no dummy. Deranged, sure, and maybe a little bit cuckoo at this point, but dumb? Not a chance.

That’s why, when he complains about the sanctions that he’s facing on account of his invasion of Ukraine, it can be hard to take him seriously. He was well aware of what would happen if he went through with the incursion, but chose to continue any way, making his complaints all the more ridiculous.

Now, in retaliation for the retaliation, the Russian dictator is taking aim at a number of notable Americans.

Read more... and find out who else has been sanctioned.

Putin uses the "N word," no, not that one!

The Threat Of Nuclear War Becomes A Reality As Putin Responds To Sanctions

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Sunday that he was placing Russian nuclear forces on high alert in response to Western economic sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Putin ordered top military officials Sunday to place nuclear forces on a “special regime of combat duty.” What that will fully entail is unclear but it will increase Russia’s preparedness to deploy nuclear weapons.

Putin said the move comes in response to economic sanctions levied against Russia’s central bank and financial sector by the United States and European Union member states. NATO allies decided Saturday to remove Russia from SWIFT, a global financial partnership and messaging system.

Read about it...

Biden: "America stands up to bullies. We stand up for freedom."

Biden Announces New Sanctions in Response to Russian Attack on Ukraine

President Joe Biden announced additional sanctions and export restrictions against Russia Thursday in response to a Russian attack against Ukraine launched in the early hours that morning.

In a televised address on Feb. 24, Biden vowed to impose new sanctions against four additional Russian banks as well as additional members of Moscow’s elite inner circle and cut off “half” of Russia’s high-tech imports.

Read more...