Washington: President Donald Trump faced a political setback on Tuesday after the US Senate approved a procedural measure advancing legislation that could restrict his ability to continue military operations against Iran without congressional approval.
The development marked a rare moment of bipartisan resistance, with several Republican senators breaking ranks to support the proposal despite opposition from the White House.
The measure seeks to require the president to either obtain formal authorisation from Congress for continued military action against Iran or begin withdrawing US forces engaged in the conflict. It follows months of tension after Trump ordered military strikes on Iranian targets in late February, a move that sparked repeated efforts by Democratic lawmakers to challenge the administration’s war authority.
Until now, Republican support had been strong enough to prevent such resolutions from moving forward. However, Tuesday’s vote saw a shift when Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana joined a small bloc of Republicans in backing the measure, helping it secure passage by a 50-47 margin.
Cassidy’s vote drew particular attention as it marked the first time he had supported a war powers resolution tied to the Iran conflict. Political observers noted the decision comes shortly after his recent primary election defeat, where Trump had endorsed his challenger.
Republican senators Rand Paul, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski — who had supported earlier versions of similar legislation — again voted in favour, signalling growing unease within sections of the party over the scope of executive military authority.
The approval does not immediately force any change in US military policy, as the bill must still pass a final Senate vote before moving further through the legislative process. The timing of that vote has not yet been confirmed.
Still, the outcome reflects increasing concern in Congress over the possibility of prolonged US involvement in another Middle East conflict. Supporters of the measure argue that decisions involving war should require direct approval from lawmakers rather than unilateral executive action.
The White House has defended Trump’s approach, insisting that military pressure remains necessary to contain Iran’s nuclear ambitions and maintain regional stability.
Tuesday’s vote nevertheless exposed visible cracks within Republican ranks, underlining that even among Trump’s allies, support for an extended military confrontation with Tehran is no longer unanimous.
