Senate Advances War Powers Challenge, Signaling Growing Resistance to Trump’s Military Campaign in Iran

The U.S. Senate moved Tuesday to advance a War Powers Resolution aimed at restricting military action in Iran, exposing widening political resistance inside Washington as the war lingers.

The resolution passed 50-47 in a preliminary vote after Republican Senator Bill Cassidy broke ranks with his party, underscoring growing unease in Congress over the administration's authority to continue military operations without explicit authorization under the War Powers Act.

The vote has limited immediate legal force, but it adds political pressure at a moment when the war with Iran is increasingly shaping domestic economic conditions, energy markets, and the broader debate over executive power.

The Senate move came as Trump disclosed on Truth Social that he had halted a scheduled military strike on Iran following urgent appeals from regional allies.

He said leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates urged him "to hold off on our planned Military attack of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was scheduled for tomorrow, in that serious negotiations are now taking place, and that, in their opinion, as Great Leaders and Allies, a Deal will be made, which will be very acceptable to the United States of America, as well as all Countries in the Middle East, and beyond. This Deal will include, importantly, NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR IRAN!"

Trump added that he had instructed senior military leadership, including Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Daniel Caine, to stand down from the immediate strike but remain prepared for rapid escalation if diplomacy fails.

"Based on my respect for the above mentioned Leaders, I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, The Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Daniel Caine, and The United States Military, that we will NOT be doing the scheduled attack of Iran tomorrow, but have further instructed them to be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment's notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached," he wrote.

Speaking later at the White House, Trump suggested the decision may not represent a long-term shift.

"I put it off for a little while, hopefully, maybe forever, but possibly for a little while, because we've had very big discussions with Iran, and we'll see what they amount to," he said.

He also escalated pressure on Tehran in a separate Truth Social post, warning that Iran "better get moving, FAST, or there won't be anything left of them," reviving rhetoric that has defined much of the administration's approach since the war began nearly three months ago.

Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, secure limits on Iran's nuclear program, and restore stability to maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz have shown limited progress in recent weeks, according to officials involved in the talks. The Gulf shipping corridor remains central to global energy flows, and even partial disruptions have kept crude oil prices elevated above $100 per barrel for extended periods.

That energy shock is now feeding directly into U.S. inflation dynamics, with gasoline prices rising ahead of peak summer demand. Economists warn that sustained high oil prices could slow disinflation progress, complicating the Federal Reserve's policy path and increasing the risk of tighter financial conditions for longer.

War Powers Clash Deepens In Congress

The Senate resolution reflects growing concern across both parties that the executive branch has expanded military operations without clear congressional authorization. Under the War Powers Resolution framework, presidents are required to seek approval for sustained military engagements, but successive administrations have interpreted and stretched those limits.

The administration argues that ongoing operations are justified under national security authorities and that the situation has been complicated by intermittent ceasefire conditions that reset the legal clock.

Republican opposition to the resolution remained strong, but absences weakened resistance in the chamber. Senators Thom Tillis, John Cornyn, and Tommy Tuberville did not vote.

Democrats largely supported the measure, while Senator John Fetterman was the only Democrat to oppose it, highlighting internal divisions over how aggressively the United States should confront Iran militarily.

Cassidy's defection is politically significant given his recent primary defeat and diminishing political constraints, suggesting that some Republican lawmakers may feel freer to distance themselves from the administration's war strategy in their final months in office.

The US war against Iran has cost American taxpayers an estimated $29 billion, according to recent Pentagon figures. However, independent economists and lawmakers estimate that the true economic impact could range between $630 billion and $1 trillion when accounting for long-term factors like equipment replacement, munitions depletion, and macroeconomic effects.

The direct and indirect economic burden is increasingly shaping political sentiment in Washington, where concerns about inflation, energy security, and fiscal exposure are converging with constitutional debates over presidential war authority.