In a rare bipartisan rebuke to president Donald Trump, the US Senate has passed a war powers resolution directing the administration to cease military action against Iran unless authorised by Congress, reflecting growing concern among lawmakers over the conflict and its long-term implications.
The Republican-controlled Senate approved the resolution on Tuesday by a vote of 50-48, with four Republican senators joining Democrats in support of the measure. Democratic senator John Fetterman was the only member of his party to vote against it, while two Republican senators did not participate.
The House of Representatives had earlier approved the resolution by a vote of 215-208, with four Republicans joining Democrats in backing the measure.
The vote marks the first time since the enactment of the War Powers Resolution of 1973 that both chambers of Congress have approved a resolution directing a president to end military hostilities.
Congressional Approval Required for Further Military Action
The resolution directs the president to withdraw US armed forces from hostilities involving Iran unless Congress issues a formal declaration of war or grants specific authorisation for the use of military force.
Supporters argued that the US Constitution grants Congress the authority to declare war and that continued military operations against Iran should not proceed without legislative approval.
The measure comes as the Trump administration pursues negotiations with Tehran aimed at securing a broader peace agreement following a ceasefire reached earlier this year.
Largely Symbolic but Politically Significant
While the resolution represents a significant expression of congressional sentiment, its practical impact is likely to be limited.
As a concurrent resolution, it does not require the president's signature and lacks the force of law. The White House has also maintained that US forces are not currently engaged in active hostilities against Iran following the ceasefire agreement reached in April.
Nevertheless, the vote is widely viewed as a strong political signal from Congress, particularly from Republican lawmakers who have generally supported Trump's foreign policy agenda.
The passage of the resolution underscores growing scepticism among some legislators regarding both the military campaign and the administration's broader strategy for resolving the conflict.
Trump Dismisses Senate Action
President Trump rejected the Senate's move, describing it as 'poorly timed and meaningless'.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, he criticised lawmakers for passing the resolution while his administration was engaged in negotiations with Tehran.
"So, I have Iran on the 'ropes,' ready to go down for the fall... and the US Senate decides to have a poorly timed and meaningless War Powers Act vote," Trump wrote.
"These Senators have just made my job more difficult, but I will get it done, one way or the other, because I always get it done," he added.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a close ally of the president, also criticised the measure, arguing that it could complicate ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Rising Concerns over Costs and Public Support
The Senate vote comes amid growing public scepticism about the conflict.
According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, three out of four Americans believe the war with Iran has not been worth its costs. A majority of respondents also expressed doubts about the durability of any ceasefire agreement.
Some Republican law-makers have raised concerns about the economic and strategic consequences of prolonged military involvement, particularly as the conflict enters its fifth month.
The Pentagon has requested approximately US$80bn (billion) in additional funding from Congress, a significant portion of which would be allocated to operations related to the Iran conflict.
Republicans Break with Trump
The resolution secured passage with support from Republican senators Rand Paul, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and Bill Cassidy, who joined Democrats in voting for the measure.
The vote represents one of the most significant instances of Republican law-makers breaking ranks with Trump on a major foreign policy issue and highlights broader debates within the party ahead of the November mid-term elections.
Differences between the White House and congressional Republicans have also surfaced over spending priorities and foreign policy matters, including assistance to Ukraine and other national security initiatives.
Peace Talks Continue
The congressional action comes as Washington and Tehran continue negotiations aimed at transforming a preliminary ceasefire into a broader agreement covering Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions relief and security arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz.
Under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed last week, negotiators have been given 60 days to work towards a comprehensive settlement.
Although the resolution is unlikely to alter US policy directly, analysts say it increases political pressure on the administration to pursue a diplomatic resolution and avoid further escalation.
The vote also reinforces Congress's longstanding efforts to reassert its constitutional role in decisions involving war and military intervention, an issue that has repeatedly generated tensions between law-makers and successive US presidents.
