Speaker Johnson has stated that there is a “big appetite” in Congress to use sanctions as a means of ending the war in Ukraine. While few details have been released, this stance underscores a growing interest among U.S. lawmakers in exploring diplomatic and economic pressure to resolve the conflict.

In a move to intensify pressure on Iran’s oil industry, the United States has sanctioned Chinese refiner Shandong Shengxing Chemical Co. Ltd. The refinery is accused of purchasing over a billion dollars’ worth of Iranian crude oil, signaling a tougher stance on companies defying US sanctions.