The US Congress has delivered a rare bipartisan rebuke to President Donald Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict, passing a war powers measure that calls on him to halt military action or seek approval from lawmakers before continuing operations.
The Republican-controlled Senate on Tuesday approved the resolution in a narrow 50-48 vote on Tuesday, with four Republicans breaking ranks to join Democrats.
The measure had already passed the House of Representatives earlier this month.
Although the resolution carries no legal force and will not be sent to Trump for signature, its passage marks the first time since the War Powers Resolution of 1973 that both chambers of Congress have approved a concurrent resolution directing a president to end a military action.
The vote comes amid growing unease in Washington over the nearly five-month conflict with Iran, as well as concerns about a peace framework recently negotiated by the Trump administration.
Trump dismissed the measure as “poorly timed and meaningless,” arguing that it undermines his efforts to secure a favourable outcome 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 on Truth Social.
“These senators have just made my job more difficult, but I will get it done, one way or the other.”
Despite the president’s criticism, the vote highlights growing divisions within the Republican Party ahead of November’s midterm elections.
Republican Senators Rand Paul, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and Bill Cassidy joined Democrats in supporting the resolution. Democratic Senator John Fetterman was the only member of his party to oppose it.
The White House sought to downplay the significance of the measure, arguing that the ceasefire reached with Iran on April 7 means there are currently no active hostilities requiring a withdrawal of American forces.
Administration officials also noted that two Republican senators, Mitch McConnell and Dave McCormick, were absent during the vote.
Political analysts say the measure is largely symbolic but reflects increasing public frustration with the conflict, particularly after the war contributed to spikes in fuel prices and heightened economic uncertainty.
“It’s more of a slap on the wrist than a handcuff because it has no legal binding,” Middle East analyst Laura Blumenfeld said. “But it reflects the mood of the American public.”
Under US law, military operations generally require congressional approval if they continue beyond 60 days.
The Trump administration maintains that the April ceasefire effectively reset that timeline.
The vote also came as the Pentagon requested roughly $80 billion from Congress, with most of the funding earmarked for costs associated with the Iran conflict.
Meanwhile, Washington and Tehran continue to work under a memorandum of understanding signed last week, giving both sides 60 days to negotiate a broader agreement aimed at ending Iran’s nuclear programme and bringing the conflict to a permanent close.
While the resolution does not alter US policy, it sends a clear political signal that lawmakers in both parties want a greater say in decisions that could draw America deeper into another prolonged conflict in the Middle East.
