Thune to add Iran sanctions to Russia bill
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- Thune told reporters Thursday he expects to add Iran sanctions provisions to the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill, fulfilling Trump's weekend social-media request.
- Thune downplayed the addition as routine, saying: "I think everybody's fine with it because we do it anyway — Iran sanctions is something we've had in place the last 30 years."
- The Russia bill picked up momentum after the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) earlier this month; Graham was the legislation's chief driver for years.
- The bill would impose mandatory sanctions on Russia and its allies, potentially including tariffs on buyers of Russian energy.
- Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah could now be folded under the sanctions umbrella.
- Thune is negotiating with Democrats to limit floor debate time so the bill can reach a vote before senators leave for a month-long recess on August 7.
Why it matters: Thune is consolidating the Russia and Iran sanctions fights into one legislative vehicle with an August 7 deadline, turning a years-stalled bipartisan bill into a broader Middle East and Eastern Europe pressure campaign — and doing it without the bill's original champion, the late Lindsey Graham.
