President Donald Trump on Tuesday, 14 July signalled support for expanding a Russia sanctions bill — championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham — to also cover Iran and Hezbollah, while clarifying that secondary sanctions on countries such as India and China had not yet been discussed. Trump made the remarks during a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi at the White House.

What Trump Said on the Sanctions Bill

Responding to questions on whether he would sign the legislation, Trump indicated strong momentum behind the proposal. 'I know that Lindsey wanted it very badly,' he said, adding: 'I think they may be adding Iran to it. They're going to add Iran, which is a very big thing. They may add Hezbollah to it.'

Trump described the expanded package as a tribute to Graham, a leading Republican voice on foreign policy who had long pushed for tougher economic measures against Moscow and its partners. 'This is in honour of Lindsey, and this was his thing. He wanted this more than any other thing,' Trump said, adding: 'There's a good chance that it gets done.'

India and China: No Decision Yet

When asked directly whether the legislation would include secondary sanctions targeting countries such as India and China — which maintain significant economic ties with Russia — Trump indicated no such decision had been made. 'If that was the secondary sanctions on China, India... we'll have to look. That hasn't been discussed,' he said. The clarification is notable given both nations have continued importing Russian energy since the 2022 Ukraine conflict, a point of longstanding friction with Washington's sanctions architecture.

Trump on Iran's Weakened Military Posture

The White House exchange ranged broadly across the Middle East, with Trump arguing that Iran's regional influence had been decisively curtailed. 'Iran was the bully of the Middle East. They bullied Iraq. They bullied every country. There's no fear anymore because their military capability has been knocked to hell,' he said.

Trump also addressed an earlier window for diplomacy with Tehran. 'I gave them a chance. I wanted to give them a chance at making a deal. We had a deal two days ago. It was done and then all of a sudden they couldn't do it... and they shot first, and that was a big mistake,' he said. He added: 'What we've done to Iran is we've taken away almost all of their military capability.'

Background: The Graham Sanctions Legacy

The legislation at the centre of Tuesday's remarks was closely associated with Senator Lindsey Graham, who had been one of the most vocal advocates in the US Congress for escalating economic pressure on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. The bill seeks to tighten existing sanctions and introduce additional punitive measures against Moscow. Its potential expansion to include Iran and Hezbollah would significantly widen its geopolitical scope. With Trump now signalling openness to the broader package, attention shifts to Congressional timelines and whether secondary sanctions provisions targeting third-country buyers of Russian commodities will ultimately be included.