Senate unites to limit president’s powers in lifting existing penalties

BEIJING — As the US Senate passed new sanctions against Russia on Thursday, the new legislation will possibly fan the flames of already tumultuous Washington politics and make rapprochement between the former Cold War foes, something President Donald Trump desires, even more difficult to achieve.

The legislation, an amendment to sanctions on Iran, is aimed at restricting Teheran’s ballistic missile programs and punishing it for “supporting terrorism”.

The Senate, building upon the bipartisan agreement reached earlier this week, backed the legislation with a 98-2 vote. The only two “no” votes were cast by Republican Rand Paul and independent Bernie Sanders, who caucuses with the Democrats.

With regard to Russia, the bill, which includes a mandatory congressional-review process to limit Trump’s exec- utive power in lifting existing Russia sanctions, is one of the strongest responses from the US Congress to alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election to date.

The new sanctions are designed to target, among others, “those conducting malicious cyber activity on behalf of the Russian government” and “those doing business with the Russian intelligence and defense sectors”, according to a news release by the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.

They also penalize vital sectors of Russia’s resource-rich economy, including mining, metals, shipping and railways.

The Senate approval came as US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the former CEO of oil giant ExxonMobil who received an Order of Friendship from Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2013, asked lawmakers to grant “flexibility” to the White House in dealing with Russia.