US Senate votes to pass Iran war powers resolution, in blow to Trump

The United States Senate has passed a bill to pause President Donald Trump’s military campaign against Iran and seek congressional approval before any further action is taken.

On Tuesday, the chamber voted 50 to 48 to pass the resolution, which had been approved in the House of Representatives earlier in the month.It was also the second time since returning to office for a second term that Trump involved US military forces in a war against Iran. In June 2025, Trump had also sent bombers to attack three key sites associated with Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme.

Trump has said the latest war was necessary to prevent Iran from developping a nuclear weapon, an ambition it has long denied.

But critics have characterised the February strikes as an unprovoked act of aggression that has threatened to further destabilise the Middle East.