An MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, attached to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 46, unloads pallets for destroyer USS Delbert D. Black on June 15, 2026. Delbert D. Black is deployed to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East. (U.S. Navy)
WASHINGTON — The Senate on Tuesday approved a House-passed measure to end unauthorized U.S. military action against Iran in a symbolic congressional rebuke of the war amid negotiations for a lasting peace agreement.
Senators voted 50-48 for the concurrent resolution, which, unlike a joint resolution, does not require the president’s signature and cannot become law but serves as a legislative vehicle to express lawmaker sentiment about the war.
Republicans Bill Cassidy, of Louisiana; Susan Collins, of Maine; Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska; and Rand Paul, of Kentucky, voted for the measure. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to vote against it.
Sens. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Dave McCormick, R-Penn., were absent.
The vote marked the 10th effort in the Senate to put limits on President Donald Trump’s ability to wage war in Iran, and the first time the chamber considered a measure that had already been passed by the House.
The House approved the measure earlier this month after four Republicans, including two Army veterans, joined every Democrat in supporting it. Since then, the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding to reach a final deal to end the war within 60 days.
Republicans argued that the passage of a war powers resolution now could imperil negotiations and possibly spur Iran to walk away. A central issue in the talks is the future of Iran’s nuclear program.
“Let diplomacy work,” said Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, prior to the vote. “Give the president, give the Department of State, give the current administration the ability to once again give Iran the opportunity to do the right thing. Maybe they will.”
But Democrats said the lull in fighting was an opportunity to ensure lawmakers will have a say over the conflict if negotiations fail and fighting resumes.
“We’ve stepped back from the most active phase of the war, and that’s a perfect time for Congress to step back and ask ourselves the question of what should the next chapter be, rather than allowing one man to make that decision,” said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., who has a separate war powers resolution pending in the Senate.
Under the Constitution, Congress has the sole authority to declare war, and the 1973 War Powers Resolution limits unauthorized military operations to 60 days before a president is required to either remove forces or seek congressional approval for their continued deployment.
Presidents from both parties have skirted those requirements, however, and engaged in military actions without congressional authorization. The Trump administration argued that hostilities in the Iran war ended less than 60 days into the conflict in early April, negating the need for authorization.
The Pentagon is preparing to ask Congress for $80 billion in supplemental funding to cover the costs associated with the war, though Democrat Chris Van Hollen, of Maryland, said Tuesday that he expected the final price tag to be “much higher.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to meet with House Republicans on Wednesday to discuss funding for the military, including the administration’s push for a record $1.5 trillion defense budget for the 2027 fiscal year.
