Senate Breaks With Trump in First Move to End Iran War

The Senate took a significant step on Tuesday by advancing a measure that would require President Donald Trump to get congressional approval to continue military operations against Iran. This marked a win for war opponents after seven failed attempts.

The procedural vote passed 50-47, with four Republicans joining most Democrats to push the war powers resolution forward. The measure, led by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine from Virginia, would mandate that Trump end U.S. hostilities against Iran unless Congress authorizes them.

Republican Senators Susan Collins from Maine, Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, Rand Paul from Kentucky, and Bill Cassidy from Louisiana voted with the Democrats.

Democratic Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania opposed the measure. Three Republican senators missed the vote, which helped the resolution advance.

This vote was the first success for lawmakers seeking to limit Trump’s power over the Iran conflict. This conflict began earlier this year and has continued despite the administration’s claim that hostilities had effectively ended.

Before the vote, Kaine noted that the administration had passed the 60-day deadline set by the War Powers Act. This law requires a president to get congressional approval for prolonged military action.

“The administration is unwilling to show us the legal rationale for the war,” Kaine stated on the Senate floor, as reported by USA Today. “That should be a flashing red light.”

The 1973 War Powers Act was meant to prevent presidents from keeping U.S. forces in hostilities without congressional consent. Trump has argued that the deadline doesn’t apply because he claims the conflict has ended.

However, his administration has maintained a military presence in the region and has not ruled out further actions.

The resolution still faces challenges. It needs to pass the full Senate, then the Republican-controlled House, and it will likely face a Trump veto. Overriding that veto would require two-thirds majorities in both chambers, a target supporters are unlikely to reach.

Nonetheless, Tuesday’s vote indicated that some Republicans are prepared to confront Trump on the war. The conflict has become a political issue ahead of the midterm elections.

Gas prices, inflation, and public frustration over the administration’s Middle East strategy have put pressure on Republicans in key districts.

Cassidy’s vote received notable attention. The Louisiana Republican had opposed earlier efforts to advance similar measures but changed his stance shortly after losing his primary to a Trump-backed challenger.

Cassidy cited concerns from constituents and a lack of transparency from the administration regarding military operations.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer remarked that the vote reflects a change in Congress regarding the war.

“If there was ever a time to support our war powers resolution to withdraw troops from hostilities with Iran, it’s now,” Schumer said before the vote, according to Al Jazeera.

Republican leaders downplayed the outcome, pointing out that three GOP senators were absent. They argued that the measure does not represent the full Senate’s viewpoint. Allies of Trump assert that the president acted within his authority as commander in chief.

The House has already turned down similar efforts by narrow margins, including one tied vote. Supporters of the Senate resolution hope that Tuesday’s vote will bring new momentum to their congressional push, which had suffered repeated setbacks.

For Kaine and other supporters, the vote was more about pressuring Congress to publicly state whether Trump can continue military action without lawmakers’ approval than about an immediate end to the war.

The Senate must still hold additional votes before the measure can proceed to the House.