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During comments to reporters in Florida, President Donald Trump signaled that the coming package could reach far beyond Russia itself.
A fresh sanctions push seems to be taking shape in Washington, with Republican lawmakers preparing a measure aimed at countries that continue commerce with Moscow.
According to the Kyiv Independent, U.S. President Donald Trump told journalists in Palm Beach on Nov. 16 that lawmakers were advancing a proposal with sharp penalties for governments still trading with Russia.
The outlet quotes him for saying, that “any country that does business with Russia will be very severely sanctioned,” adding that Iran may be included as well.
His remarks were reported by U.S. media covering the event.
Heavy sanctions on oil
According to earlier reporting from Reuters, the administration has already been rolling out penalties step by step.
In October, officials targeted Rosneft and Lukoil — Russia’s two largest state-linked oil firms — along with related subsidiaries.
Those actions marked the first sanctions of their kind under Trump’s team and were intended to cut into Moscow’s energy revenue.
The measures came as Western governments continued looking for ways to pressure the Kremlin over its offensive in Ukraine.
Delays and exceptions
Despite that initial push, the U.S. Treasury Department recently postponed one of the penalties.
Sanctions on Lukoil, expected to take effect on Nov. 21, were delayed so the company could sell foreign holdings before restrictions kicked in, according to Treasury announcements
The administration has also widened its scope beyond Russia itself. Earlier this year, Washington imposed 50% tariffs on India, one of the world’s biggest buyers of Russian crude.
According to Business Standard, Trump is even backing a potential 500 % tariff on Russian trade partners, including Moscows’s two biggest trading partners China and India.
New targets ahead
Trump offered few specifics about the legislation now being drafted but indicated that Iran would likely feature in the bill.
U.S. officials and Western intelligence assessments have long accused Tehran of aiding Russia’s military by providing drones and equipment since the full-scale invasion began.
Iran’s partnership with Moscow has drawn repeated criticism from Washington, and any new measures would further tighten the network of sanctions encircling both governments.
Sources: Reuters, AP, BBC, Kyiv Independent
