WASHINGTON — The US House of Representatives could take up a sweeping Russia and Iran sanctions bill as soon as September 15, Republican Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina told RFE/RL.
Wilson said he expects the House Rules Committee, which is scheduled to meet on September 14, to consider the legislation, to advance the measure and expressed confidence that it could reach President Donald Trump’s desk within days.
“Things always change here in Washington,” Wilson said in an interview on September 14, but added that he was “very confident” the bill would move forward.
The legislation is intended to impose tougher economic pressure on Russia and could set up a heated fight between Republicans and Democrats over how far Congress should go in expanding Trump’s tariff powers.
The Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act on August 7 by an overwhelming 86-11 vote. The bill targets Russian officials and institutions as well as the “shadow fleet” of vessels that enable Moscow to evade sanctions on oil deliveries, a key source of revenue for its economy and war against Ukraine.
It gives the US president the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on goods from major purchasers of Russian oil and gas and countries deemed to be involved in sanctions evasion. It would also extend the existing Iran Sanctions Act for five years.
Asked whether he was confident Trump would sign the legislation, Wilson was unequivocal: “Absolutely.”
Secondary Sanctions
The bill’s tariff provisions are aimed at major purchasers of Russian energy, potentially putting pressure on countries that continue to buy Russian oil and gas, including China and India.
“When you can do sanctions on a country, that’s significant. But what’s particularly significant are secondary sanctions on countries that are actually buying oil or financing the regime in Moscow,” Wilson said.
He added that India has already indicated that it intends to reduce its dependence on Russian oil and argued that China should take similar steps.
“Now we need China itself to reduce purchasing,” he said, “because when they purchase oil from [Russian President] Vladimir Putin, it finances a totalitarian government that is providing for war in Ukraine.”
Democrats in the House have raised concerns that the bill would give Trump excessive tariff authority while failing to require the administration to impose sanctions on Russia.
Wilson, however, said the ability to pressure Russia’s economic partners is precisely what makes the legislation important.
Russia, Iran, And China
Wilson also framed the legislation as part of a larger strategic picture involving Russia, Iran, and China.
The bill itself links Russia and Iran by targeting Moscow’s war economy while extending the Iran Sanctions Act. Ukrainian officials have also pointed to growing military-industrial cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.
Wilson said he believes the relationship goes beyond sanctions evasion or economic ties.
“This is not just Russia,” he said. “This is Russia, China, Iran.”
He pointed to the capabilities of the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen as an example of what he sees as the wider security implications.
“The Houthis are puppets of Iran,” Wilson said, describing the threat posed by the group as “very, very serious.”
US lawmakers have been examining alleged Russian and Chinese operational, intelligence, and procurement links to the Houthis, while Iran remains the group’s principal foreign backer.
Wilson said the threat extends to international shipping and US forces in the region.
“The Red Sea is very important to commerce,” he said, pointing to Houthi attacks on shipping and Saudi Arabian infrastructure as evidence of the danger.
Wilson said the response should involve both economic pressure and stronger US and allied military capabilities. “The intent is not for war; it’s for peace through strength,” he said.
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