House Passes Tough New Sanctions on Russia and Iran, Gives Trump Power to Impose 100% Tariffs

The 117th Congress took a decisive step on Thursday, when the House of Representatives approved the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act 2026. A roll‑call showed 262 members in favour and 159 opposed, sending the hefty 61‑page measure to President Donald Trump for his signature.

What does the bill actually do? In plain terms, it tightens the noose around Russia’s energy and defence industries, adding new prohibitions on technology transfers and financial transactions. More striking, however, is the clause that would let the president impose tariffs as high as 100 % on any nation that continues to import Russian oil or gas.

The legislation calls out a laundry list of countries – India, China, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Slovakia, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan – essentially anyone the U.S. believes is helping Moscow stay afloat. If those tariffs go into effect, the impact could be severe: higher fuel prices at the pump, reduced export margins for oil‑linked economies, and a possible ripple of job losses in sectors that depend on cheap energy.

India, in particular, finds itself in a precarious spot. Analysts warn that a 100 % tariff on Russian crude could push gasoline and diesel prices up sharply, strain the balance of payments, and even spark political backlash at home. The move also threatens to cool an already uneasy strategic partnership between New Delhi and Washington, as both nations juggle competing interests in the Indo‑Pacific and the broader fight against China’s influence.

While the bill is still waiting for the president’s signature, its passage signals a hardening U.S. stance toward Moscow and Tehran. If signed, it would mark one of the most aggressive economic weapons the United States has wielded in recent years, aiming to choke off revenue that fuels Russia’s war machine and to pressure Iran’s regional activities.

Critics argue the approach could backfire, pushing targeted nations to look for alternative markets and deepening global supply‑chain disruptions. Supporters, however, maintain that the blunt force of a 100 % tariff sends a clear message: the United States is ready to use every tool at its disposal to curb aggression and protect its allies.