The United States Congress has delivered a rare bipartisan rebuke to President Donald Trump over the war with Iran, after the Senate backed a measure calling for an end to military action unless lawmakers formally approve its continuation.
The Republican-controlled Senate passed the resolution by 50 votes to 48 on Tuesday. Four Republicans, Rand Paul, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, and Bill Cassidy, joined most Democrats in supporting it, while Democratic Senator John Fetterman voted against the proposal. Republican senators Mitch McConnell and Dave McCormick were absent.
The vote followed the House of Representatives’ approval of the same measure in June, when four Republicans joined Democrats to pass it by 215 votes to 208.
It is the first time both chambers have adopted a concurrent resolution directing a president to end a military campaign since the War Powers Resolution became law in 1973. The legislation was introduced after the Vietnam War to limit a president’s ability to keep American forces engaged in hostilities without congressional consent.
The latest resolution will not be sent to Trump and does not carry the force of law. However, its passage reflects growing unease in Washington over the conflict’s cost, legal basis, and effect on the American public.
Pressure on the administration has increased as petrol prices have climbed and opposition to the war has grown. The Pentagon also asked Congress for about $80 billion on Tuesday, with much of the requested funding expected to cover costs associated with operations against Iran.
A White House official said there were no active hostilities from which U.S. troops could withdraw because of the ceasefire agreed on 7 April. The administration has argued that the truce restarted the timetable established under federal war powers law.
U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran began on 28 February. Federal law generally requires a president to secure congressional approval if military operations continue beyond 60 days, although a further 30-day period may be granted on national security grounds.
Washington and Tehran are continuing to observe the ceasefire while negotiations proceed. Under a memorandum signed by both presidents last week, the two countries have 60 days to pursue a wider agreement aimed at ending the conflict and addressing Iran’s nuclear programme.