US House votes to slap sanctions on Russia

The U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly on July 25 to impose tough new sanctions on Iran, North Korea and Russia, a move harshly criticized by Kremlin. 

The measure notably constrains President Donald Trump's ability to waive the penalties.  

The sanctions package, which passed 419 to three after weeks of negotiations, "tightens the screws on our most dangerous adversaries in order to keep Americans safe," House Speaker Paul Ryan said after the vote.

The measure now heads to the Senate, where there is support for sanctions but debate about whether to include penalties on North Korea.

The legislation is the result of a congressional compromise reached last weekend and is aimed at punishing the Kremlin for meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and Russia's annexation of Crimea.

"Under Vladimir Putin, Russia has invaded its neighbor Ukraine, seizing its territory and destabilizing its government," House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce said in applauding passage.

"Left unchecked, Russia is sure to continue its aggression."

The new sanctions is a "serious step" toward wrecking chances of improving ties, Russia's deputy foreign minister said on July 26.

"What has happened goes beyond the realms of common sense," Sergei Ryabkov told state-run TASS news agency.

"The authors and sponsors of this bill are taking a very serious step toward destroying the possibilities for normalizing relations with Russia."

If Trump does sign off on the bill then Russia looks likely to retaliate, with Ryabkov insisting Moscow has warned Washington "dozens of times" that any new sanctions would "not go unanswered." 

But for now Moscow appears to be keeping its...