Trump administration, according to reports, asks Congress to amend Graham-named Russia sanctions bill and broaden Iran tariff authority

President Donald Trump has reportedly asked lawmakers to revise a sanctions bill targeting Russia that is named for Sen. Lindsey Graham, as the measure moves toward a vote in the House, according to a report by The Hill published July 29. The reported demands would include adding changes to the bill’s provisions and granting the President tariff-related authority tied to Iran, which could further complicate negotiations over the legislation’s final language.

According to The Hill, the bill’s structure has already drawn scrutiny in Congress, with Democrats who largely support the Russia sanctions effort raising concerns about the breadth of the tariff powers the legislation would give the executive branch. The report frames the new Trump demands as additional hurdles for lawmakers seeking to complete work in time for an upcoming chamber vote.

The Hill’s account ties the reported requests to both the sanctions package itself and to authorities that would expand how the executive branch could use tariff tools in relation to Iran. The report describes the Iran-related tariff power as expansive and notes that members of the opposition side have previously questioned whether the scope of those powers is appropriate or too open-ended.

The legislative timing described by The Hill places the negotiations in the final stretch ahead of a potential House vote. In that context, members of both parties typically focus on whether statutory language provides sufficient constraints, reporting requirements, and clear triggers for executive action, particularly when sanctions and trade authorities intersect.

No White House statement, Department of State release, or posting was provided in the supplied materials to independently confirm the specific content, legal mechanics, or formal submission of President Trump’s reported demands. As a result, this story reflects what The Hill reported about the President’s request and the concerns already raised by Democrats, rather than asserting the final bill text has been amended as described.

If Congress proceeds with the bill in the form negotiated, the next step for lawmakers would be the House consideration of the measure and any accompanying amendment process, followed by Senate action if changes are adopted. The practical effect of the final text will depend on whether the bill’s tariff authority for Iran remains tied to narrowly defined triggers and oversight, or whether it is expanded in a way that lawmakers across party lines consider too broad.

Congressional review of both sanctions implementation and related trade authorities would also determine how the executive branch applies any new tools once enacted, including which agencies carry out enforcement and what reporting or procedural guardrails are embedded in the statute.