The US Senate on Wednesday rejected a resolution that would have directed President Donald Trump to remove US forces from hostilities with Iran unless Congress formally authorises military action.
The measure failed in a 47-50-1 vote after Republican leaders argued that another congressional rebuke could undermine ongoing negotiations to end the war.
The resolution sought to reassert Congress’s constitutional authority to declare war and would have required the administration to halt US military involvement in or against Iran without a declaration of war or specific authorisation for the use of military force.
Republican Sen. Rand Paul, who has previously backed similar efforts alongside Democrats, voted “present,” saying he did not want to jeopardise the peace talks.
“Since hostilities seem to be over and the President asked me to give consideration to his negotiating position, I will do so,” Paul said in a post on X ahead of the vote. “My vote of present is a way to give the President more space and leverage to negotiate a lasting peace.”
Trump celebrated the vote on Truth Social, saying the Senate had “changed its vote on Iran from 50-48 against, to 50-47 for.”
“Rand Paul and Bill Cassidy changed. Thank you to Leader John Thune, Lindsey Graham, Bernie Moreno, and all. This vote puts Iran on notice!” he wrote.
The vote came after Senate Republicans heard Trump defend his Iran policy earlier on Wednesday.
Another Republican, Sen. Bill Cassidy, who had helped advance the measure from committee in May, later voted against it after receiving what he described as a “thorough” briefing from Vice President JD Vance and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on the status of the conflict.
