WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump plans to sign a bill passed by Congress that increases sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea, the White House announced late Friday.

The decision comes despite strong reservations among Trump advisers over a provision that binds his hands when it comes to altering sanctions policy against Moscow.

A 98-to-2 vote by the Senate on Thursday had set up a choice between vetoing the bill knowing that lawmakers were prepared to override his veto, or signing legislation his administration lobbied hard against.

"President Donald J. Trump read early drafts of the bill and negotiated regarding critical elements of it," a White House statement said. "He has now reviewed the final version and, based on its responsiveness to his negotiations, approves the bill and intends to sign it."

It was not clear what influence the White House claimed Trump had exerted. The bill still includes mandatory congressional review.

The decision to sign followed announcement Friday that Russia would kick out a large number of U.S. diplomats and staff in retaliation for similar U.S. actions last December. Russia had held off on a tit-for-tat response at the time out of deference to Trump, then the incoming president. Trump has promised as a candidate that he would seek better relations with Moscow, and had expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Russian action signaled a loss of patience by Putin with the Trump administration's ability to change the bilateral relationship, as the legislation handcuffs Trump's power to lift the punitive measures taken by the United States in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine.

The Russian expulsion order could affect scores or hundreds of diplomats and other embassy staff in Moscow and other Russian cities.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Friday that Moscow had no choice but to respond now, according to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Lavrov cited "a number of hostile steps" taken by the United States but also told Tillerson that Moscow was "ready to normalize the bilateral relations with the U.S. and cooperate on important international issues," the Foreign Ministry said.

"We have expressed our strong disappointment and protest," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said. The U.S. protests came during Tillerson's call with Lavrov and a meeting U.S. Ambassador John Tefft held in Moscow with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.