The Russian Embassy in Washington has warned that a proposed U.S. bill allowing the president to impose tariffs on countries purchasing Russian energy could drive American gasoline prices “ever-higher” — a development that risks economic strain for voters just months before midterm elections.
Named the “Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026,” the legislation would empower the president to levy up to 100% tariffs on goods from major buyers of Russian oil and gas, including China and India. The bill cleared the House of Representatives this week, removing its final congressional hurdle before President Donald Trump.
In a statement on social media, the Russian Embassy criticized the “Russophobic instinct” underlying the legislation, arguing it would make “a grand disservice” to the current administration’s efforts to “Make America Great Again.” It warned that disrupting energy markets by blocking Russian oil and gas trade during ongoing Middle Eastern supply disruptions could lead to ever-higher prices at the pump.
The embassy also cautioned that targeting major buyers of Russian energy might deepen tensions between Washington, Moscow, and Beijing. It noted such measures would create a “lose-lose” situation for U.S. diplomacy by simultaneously confronting Russia and China.
U.S. gasoline averages $4.43-$4.44 per gallon, over $1.10 more than last year, while diesel has reached a record $6.40 nationwide — up 77 cents in the first half of September alone. Disruptions to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for Gulf exports, have been compounded by instability in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait due to Houthi advances in Yemen. Crude oil prices have climbed above $100 per barrel.
China and India, the largest buyers of Russian energy, have opposed the bill. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stated that Beijing rejects Washington’s “long-arm jurisdiction” as lacking legal basis under international law. India warned tariffs on Russian oil purchases could affect U.S.-India trade relations and vowed to take steps to protect its economic interests.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov cautioned that additional U.S. sanctions would complicate efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict.
