Washington, D.C.: US President Donald Trump has waived sanctions, restrictions and duties applicable under the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, citing the national interest of the United States, according to an executive order issued on Friday.
In the order, Trump said he was waiving the application of the sanctions and other measures provided for under the legislation, also known as the Graham Act.
The US President said he had submitted a certification to Congress stating that granting the waiver at this time was in the national interest of the United States.
The Lindsey Graham Act, named after the late US senator who sponsored the legislation, authorised Trump to impose duties of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas.
The law targeted Russia’s energy and defence sectors, President Vladimir Putin and other senior Russian officials, as well as Moscow’s so-called shadow fleet of oil tankers allegedly used to circumvent Western sanctions.
The waiver comes amid developments in US-Russia relations over energy supplies and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Relations between Kyiv and Washington have reportedly deteriorated following the deal, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy describing it as a “weak decision”. Ukrainian forces have also resumed attacks on Russian oil refineries, according to the report.
The executive order was issued on Friday evening, October 16, 2026. Further details regarding the scope and implementation of the waiver were not immediately available.
