Trump demands Iran tariff authority in Graham Russia bill
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- Trump on Wednesday demanded lawmakers amend a Russia sanctions bill to include authority for him to tariff Iran, complicating the legislation's path to a House vote.
- The Russia sanctions bill, named for Sen. Graham per the legislation's title, is heading toward a vote in the House.
- Democrats largely support the underlying legislation but have already raised concerns about Trump's new amendment demands.
- Trump is coupling Iran tariff authority with Russia sanctions in a single bill, an unusual legislative linkage that hands the president leverage over both economic policies at once.
Why it matters: Trump is conditioning his support for a Russia sanctions bill on receiving separate Iran tariff authority, forcing Democrats who broadly back the Russia legislation to either accept the linkage or risk delaying the vote. The amendment demand hands Trump leverage over both countries' economic policy in a single piece of legislation now headed to the House.
