The US Senate on Tuesday approved a largely symbolic resolution calling for an end to President Donald Trump’s military involvement with Iran, marking a fresh congressional rebuke as the administration seeks a long-term diplomatic agreement with Tehran.
The measure, which had already passed the House of Representatives, was adopted by the Senate in a 50–48 vote. It directs Trump to withdraw US forces from hostilities involving Iran unless Congress explicitly authorizes military action.
As a concurrent resolution, the measure does not require the president’s signature and carries uncertain legal authority.
Nevertheless, its passage places both chambers of Congress on record in opposition to a conflict that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, unsettling global energy markets and expanding into a broader regional confrontation involving Lebanon and Gulf nations.
During Trump’s first term, Congress approved War Powers resolutions in 2019 and 2020 aimed at limiting US military actions in Yemen and Iran. Trump vetoed both measures, and Congress failed to secure the votes needed to override those vetoes.
Reacting to Tuesday’s vote, Trump dismissed the resolution on his Truth Social platform, describing it as “poorly timed and meaningless.”
“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 wrote.
The vote came as the administration pursued a 60-day diplomatic effort to transform a preliminary memorandum of understanding with Iran into a comprehensive agreement addressing Tehran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief, and the future of the Strait of Hormuz.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer forced the vote, seeking to compel Republicans to publicly state their position after several Trump allies expressed concerns about both the conflict and the president’s approach to ending it.
“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 ahead of the vote.
The resolution had previously cleared the Republican-controlled House, where four Republicans joined Democrats in supporting the measure—a rare break from Trump on national security and military policy.
Democrats argue that Trump violated the Constitution by initiating military operations against Iran without congressional approval.
Under the 1973 War Powers Act, presidents are required to obtain congressional authorization within 60 days of committing US forces to hostilities. However, administrations from both parties have frequently disputed the law’s interpretation and application.
The White House has maintained that efforts to limit Trump’s war-making authority are unconstitutional. Officials also argue that the conflict effectively ended under an April ceasefire ordered by the president.
Administration officials have further warned that restricting presidential authority could undermine US leverage as negotiators work toward a final agreement with Iran.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a close Trump ally, argued before the House vote that constraining the commander-in-chief during sensitive negotiations would be “a very dangerous prospect.”
However, Democrats and a number of Republicans contend that military operations continued beyond the legal deadline and note that Trump has repeatedly threatened renewed strikes.
The vote also reflects growing concern in Congress over the economic consequences of the conflict. The war disrupted major trade routes, pushed energy prices higher, and added pressure on American voters already grappling with inflation ahead of November’s midterm elections.
Diplomatic engagement with Tehran has accelerated since Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a preliminary agreement intended to halt the broader regional conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping.
Despite progress, significant disagreements remain.
Iran announced on Tuesday that inspectors from the United Nations nuclear watchdog would not be permitted to visit nuclear facilities damaged by US and Israeli strikes last year. The decision contradicted Vice President JD Vance’s assertion that Tehran had agreed to resume inspections.
Trump later claimed on social media 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 pre-war conditions of unrestricted passage, despite ongoing communication efforts aimed at preserving access to the strategically vital waterway.
