House sends Russia and Iran sanctions bill to Trump’s desk

# Why This Matters The House sanctions bill represents a critical test of whether Congress can impose meaningful constraints on executive power during a period of significant geopolitical tension. By granting Trump discretionary authority to waive sanctions while simultaneously mandating new restrictions on Russian energy exports, lawmakers have essentially bet that political pressure—rather than legal obligation—will prevent the administration from undermining the legislation. This structural weakness matters enormously: Trump's history of using tariff and sanctions authority to negotiate rather than punish means the bill's provisions on Russian oil, LNG, and financial institutions could be suspended or rolled back through executive action with minimal procedural friction. The real-world consequence is that the bill functions more as a negotiating document than enforceable law, potentially giving Moscow a roadmap of concessions it can seek in any future talks rather than the lasting economic pressure Congress intended.