Senate again set to vote on war powers resolution to halt Iran conflict

By — Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/senate-again-set-to-vote-on-war-powers-resolution-to-halt-iran-conflict Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Senate again set to vote on war powers resolution to halt Iran conflict Politics Jun 23, 2026 2:13 PM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — For the 10th time, the Senate will vote on a war powers resolution to block U.S. military action against Iran as lawmakers warily watch President Donald Trump's efforts to resolve a conflict that the administration launched on its own and now needs Congress to fund. The outcome Tuesday is not expected to be much different from the previous Senate efforts, which have all failed. But a growing number of Republican lawmakers in both the House and Senate have expressed their concerns over both the war and the deal Trump struck with Iran to end it. Democrats are daring the Republicans to join them in standing up to the Trump administration. "Why is this vote different?" asked Sen. Tim Kaine, the Democrat from Virginia who has led his party's efforts. Kaine said the pause in fighting, as Trump's team works to shore up a fragile ceasefire, provides the perfect time for Congress to step back and assess "what should the next chapter be." The vote also comes as the Pentagon is seeking $80 billion from Congress mostly for the Iran war as it backfills munitions and stockpiles. Trump to meet senators as Republicans balk at Iran deal Trump himself is headed to the Capitol this week to meet with GOP senators as Vice President JD Vance has been overseas working to negotiate with Iran to end that country's nuclear ambitions — which had been among the stated rationales for the war. The president is not pleased with the Republicans who have been critical of the deal he struck with Iran, according to one GOP senator granted anonymity to discuss the private dynamics. The terms of the Iran deal are spelled out in a Memorandum of Understanding that Trump signed last week, starting a 60-day clock for the sides to reach a broader agreement over ending Iran's nuclear program. READ MORE: Pentagon asks Congress for roughly $80 billion to cover cost of Iran war But Republicans have particularly objected to the $300 billion fund to help Iran rebuild, which is far greater than the $1.7 billion then-President Barack Obama refunded the country under his administration's 2015 Iran deal. "I believe President Trump is getting very poor advice on Iran," Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said last week on his podcast after the deal was made public. Democrats have repeatedly forced Iran votes Over and again, Democrats have been forcing votes on the Iran war, almost since the U.S. and Israel launched missile strikes on Iran on Feb. 28. Nearly each week they're in session, the Senate Democrats have put forward war powers resolutions, but they have failed to amass the majority needed f