President Donald Trump issues order waiving restrictions in Lindsey O. Graham Russia and Iran sanctions law as Ukraine tensions intensify

President Donald Trump has directed that restrictions under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 be waived for now, according to a White House document released Oct. 17, as the administration says the timing is in the national interest amid deepening tensions involving Russia and Ukraine.

The White House posting, titled “Implementing the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026,” presents the order as an exercise of presidential authority granted by the Constitution and U.S. law, including the statute codified at 22 U.S.C. 10802 et seq. The document frames the action as a presidential determination and order under the Graham Act, and it indicates that the administration is adjusting when sanctions-related restrictions would apply.

Reporting by The Guardian said the president signed the legislation last month and then placed the restrictions on hold because they were due to take effect, describing the move as linked to the administration’s dispute with Ukraine. The White House order is the operative document for what the administration is doing now, according to its published text.

The Graham Act is designed to target sectors of the Russian economy and to impose related Iran-related measures, making its implementation timeline an issue for companies and compliance teams that track sanctions changes and licensing rules. A waiver that delays or changes when restrictions take effect can affect how quickly parties must adjust contractual terms, payment processes, and risk assessments for dealings that may fall within sanctioned categories.

Congressional action on the underlying sanctions package set the statute in motion, but the administration’s waiver authority changes the practical effect in the near term. The White House action also points to a core feature of sanctions law, where Congress sets frameworks and the executive branch retains discretion on timing and implementation through determinations.

The administration’s next step will depend on the conditions tied to the Graham Act waiver and any subsequent presidential action. If the waiver expires or is modified, restrictions could become enforceable according to the statute’s schedule and the administration’s later determinations, requiring updated guidance and compliance adjustments. If changes are made through additional executive action, implementation details would be reflected in future presidential releases or related federal notices.