US Congress passes symbolic Iran war rebuke to Trump

• US Senate passes 50–48 symbolic resolution calling for the withdrawal of American forces from the Iran conflict, marking a political setback for President Donald Trump amid ongoing negotiations with Tehran.

The US Senate on Tuesday passed a resolution directing President Donald Trump to withdraw American forces from the war with Iran, in a symbolic rebuke to the Republican president as he pursues negotiations with Tehran.

The measure, which Congress had already approved, passed by 50 votes to 48. The resolution is not legally binding, however, and under congressional rules, Trump will not need to veto it.

Still, the vote marks a political setback for Trump at a sensitive moment in talks with Iran, despite Republicans holding majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

When the House debated the measure earlier this month, Trump condemned what he called an “unpatriotic” vote by Democrats and four Republican lawmakers who joined them.

At the time, he said Democrats “would rather see our country fail than give me another victory,” referring to what he described as his many achievements.

Democrats have for weeks sought to curb Trump’s authority to wage war against Iran, arguing that the executive branch has bypassed Congress on decisions over military action.

Under the US Constitution, only Congress has the power to declare war. While the president can launch military action in response to an imminent threat, he must seek congressional approval within 60 days.

Trump exceeded that deadline in early May, arguing that the conflict, which began on Feb. 28 with US and Israeli strikes, had effectively ended because a ceasefire was in place.

Democrats dispute that claim, saying US forces remain operationally involved even after American warships lifted a blockade on Iranian ports under a memorandum of understanding signed last week.

“Americans have paid the price for Trump’s historic blunder in Iran,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said ahead of the vote. “Trump should never have started this war.”

Republican Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, urged colleagues to reject the measure.

“If this resolution is adopted, the Iranians will simply get up and walk away from the negotiations,” Risch said. “Let diplomacy work.”