U.S. Senate Approves War Powers Resolution to Curb Iran Conflict

In a historic and largely symbolic move, the U.S. Senate voted 50-48 on Tuesday to approve a war powers resolution aimed at blocking military action against Iran, marking the first time such a measure has cleared both chambers of Congress. The vote was the tenth Senate attempt to halt the conflict, succeeding where previous efforts had failed and reflecting a significant bipartisan shift. The resolution, which the House passed earlier in June, calls on President Donald Trump to end U.S. military hostilities against Iran unless Congress authorizes force or an attack makes action necessary. As a non-binding concurrent resolution, it does not carry the force of law and does not require the president's signature, but it stands as a powerful political rebuke.

The vote came amid growing unease among Republican lawmakers, with four GOP senators—Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Rand Paul, and Bill Cassidy—joining the majority. Only one Democrat, Senator John Fetterman, voted against the measure. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer declared, "Time after time, the vast majority of Senate Republicans sided with Trump and his war instead of the American people," calling the conflict "one of the worst foreign policy incursions the United States has ever made."

The administration's efforts to resolve the war have drawn scrutiny. President Trump has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Iran, starting a 60-day clock toward a broader agreement on ending Iran's nuclear program, a key rationale for the conflict. Vice President JD Vance is overseas negotiating, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is seeking $80 billion in supplemental funding from Congress to backfill munitions and stockpiles. The high cost of the war is a major point of contention, especially as Americans face high gas prices and living costs.

Republican senators have voiced concerns about the terms of Trump's deal, particularly a proposed $300 billion fund to help Iran rebuild—far exceeding the $1.7 billion returned under the 2015 Obama-era deal. Senator Ted Cruz criticized the president's advice on Iran, saying, "I believe President Trump is getting very poor advice on Iran." As the Senate vote underscored the deepening rift between Congress and the executive branch, Trump himself planned to meet with GOP senators later in the week to shore up support.