President Donald Trump has directed lawmakers to amend a Russia sanctions bill that recently passed the Senate, demanding the inclusion of a provision granting him broad authority to impose tariffs on Iran.
The request introduces a new variable into the legislative process, threatening to stall the bill’s final approval in the House of Representatives.
The Senate had previously passed the legislation with strong bipartisan backing, focusing primarily on measures targeting Russia.
By injecting an Iran-specific tariff mandate, the White House is effectively rewriting the scope of the bill at a late stage.
This maneuver highlights the administration’s preference for using trade policy as a flexible geopolitical lever, even when it risks derailing broader legislative agendas.
The move creates a complex dynamic for traders and policymakers monitoring US-Iran relations.