NEW DELHI: The US Senate narrowly rejected a resolution seeking to end American military involvement in the war against Iran unless Congress authorised it, handing President Donald Trump another victory over lawmakers seeking to reclaim congressional war powers.
The Senate voted 50–49 against the House-passed resolution after more than 200 days of conflict, according to the official Senate floor summary.
Four Republican senators, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul and Thom Tillis, joined Democrats in supporting the measure.
Democratic Senator John Fetterman voted against it. Senator Angela Alsobrooks did not vote. The resolution, H. Con. Res. 89, sought the withdrawal of US forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress formally declared war.
It had already cleared the House in July and qualified for expedited consideration in the Senate under the 1973 War Powers Resolution. Its Senate defeat prevents it from advancing further. The vote was the latest congressional test of Trump’s handling of the Iran war and came as lawmakers voiced concern about its duration, financial cost and effect on fuel prices.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer’s office alleged that the war had killed at least 19 US service members and cost taxpayers more than $43 billion. The Senate vote followed a closeddoor briefing from Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command, to members of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
