The United States Senate has approved a resolution calling for an end to President Donald Trump’s military involvement in Iran, marking a fresh congressional challenge to the White House as negotiations continue over a long-term agreement with Tehran.
The measure, which had earlier passed the House of Representatives, was adopted by the Senate in a 50-48 vote. It directs Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities involving Iran unless Congress formally authorises military action.
Although the resolution does not carry the force of law because it is a concurrent resolution and does not require presidential approval, its passage places both chambers of Congress on record against the conflict that erupted following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February.
The conflict has affected global energy markets, disrupted regional stability, and expanded tensions across parts of the Middle East, including Lebanon and Gulf nations.
This is not the first time Congress has sought to limit presidential military authority involving Iran. During Trump’s first term, lawmakers passed War Powers resolutions in 2019 and 2020 concerning military actions in Yemen and Iran. However, both measures were vetoed by Trump, and Congress failed to secure enough votes to override the vetoes.
Reacting to the Senate vote, Trump criticised the move on his Truth Social platform, describing it as poorly timed.
“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!” Trump wrote.
The vote came as the Trump administration continued efforts to transform a preliminary memorandum of understanding with Iran into a broader agreement covering Tehran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief, and the reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer pushed for the vote, arguing that Congress needed to formally state its position on the conflict.
“Republicans can complain about Trump’s war, his secrecy, and his disastrous deal with Iran all they want behind closed doors, but the only way to ensure this war ends once and for all is for Republicans to act,” Schumer said during debate on the Senate floor.
The resolution previously passed the Republican-controlled House after four Republican lawmakers joined Democrats in supporting it, an unusual break from Trump on national security matters.
Democrats have maintained that Trump violated constitutional provisions by authorising military action against Iran without congressional approval.
Under the 1973 War Powers Act, presidents are required to obtain authorisation from Congress within 60 days of deploying U.S. forces into hostilities, although successive administrations have often disputed how the law should be interpreted.
The White House has rejected claims that the resolution is necessary, arguing that the conflict effectively ended under a ceasefire announced by Trump in April. Administration officials also warned that restricting presidential military authority could weaken America’s negotiating position during ongoing discussions with Iran.
House Speaker Mike Johnson described efforts to limit the president’s authority during negotiations as “a very dangerous prospect.”
However, critics argue that the conflict lasted beyond the legal timeframe allowed under the War Powers Act and point to Trump’s repeated warnings about possible future military action against Iran.
The debate has also been influenced by economic concerns. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed unease about the financial impact of the conflict, which disrupted trade routes, increased energy prices, and added pressure on American households already dealing with inflation ahead of the November midterm elections.
Diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran have accelerated since Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a preliminary agreement aimed at ending the wider regional conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite the progress, significant disagreements remain unresolved.
Iran announced on Tuesday that inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency would not be permitted to examine nuclear facilities previously targeted by U.S. and Israeli strikes. The move directly contradicted claims by Vice President JD Vance that Tehran had agreed to allow inspectors access.
Trump later insisted that Iran had accepted “the highest level” of nuclear inspections.
Meanwhile, Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, stated that the Strait of Hormuz would “never return”to the conditions of unrestricted passage that existed before the conflict, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to maintain access to one of the world’s most important shipping routes.
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