WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked a Democratic effort to curb President Donald Trump’s authority to conduct military operations against Iran without congressional approval, as a fragile two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran nears its scheduled end.
The Senate voted 52-47 against advancing the war powers resolution, largely along party lines. It was the fourth such attempt blocked this year. Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, joined Democrats in voting for the measure, while Senator John Fetterman, Democrat of Pennsylvania, voted against it. Senator Jim Justice, Republican of West Virginia, did not vote.
The resolution, sponsored by Senator Tammy Duckworth, Democrat of Illinois, sought to invoke the War Powers Resolution of 1973 to require congressional authorization for any further U.S. hostilities against Iran. Democrats argued that the administration’s actions exceeded executive authority.
Republicans maintained that the measure was unnecessary, citing the ongoing diplomatic process and Trump’s statements expressing confidence in a potential resolution. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch, Republican of Idaho, said the conflict was “ending what seems like it’s been a forever conflict with Iran.”
The vote occurred as the ceasefire, brokered with Pakistani assistance and effective from April 8, approaches its expiry next week. The truce halted direct U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets that began on Feb. 28. Iran agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz under the terms of the ceasefire.
High-level U.S.-Iran talks held in Islamabad over the weekend of April 11-12 ended without agreement after more than 20 hours of negotiations. Pakistan has continued mediation, with its army chief traveling to Tehran on Wednesday to discuss possible further talks.
Trump expressed optimism about the situation in a prerecorded interview aired on Wednesday, saying the conflict was “very close to being over” and that Iran “wants to make a deal very badly.”
The U.S. has maintained a naval blockade of Iranian ports during the ceasefire period. White House officials have signaled openness to a potential second round of negotiations in Pakistan, though details remain unclear.
Iranian officials have stressed the need for the U.S. to show seriousness in any commitments. No immediate violations of the ceasefire were reported on Wednesday.
As of Thursday, no new talks had been formally scheduled, and discussions on a possible extension of the truce were continuing through indirect channels. Pakistani officials have described their country’s role as that of a neutral facilitator.
