Senate Votes 50-48 to Pass Resolution Directing End to U.S. Military Action in Iran

The U.S. Senate voted 50-48 on Tuesday to approve a concurrent resolution directing President Donald Trump to terminate U.S. military involvement in hostilities with Iran. The measure, which the House of Representatives passed earlier this month, marks the first time since the 1973 War Powers Resolution that both chambers have adopted a resolution directing a president to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities.

Four Republicans joined Democrats in support of the resolution. Two Republican senators did not vote. The conflict began February 28 when the United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran. The administration is expected to request tens of billions of dollars from Congress to fund operations while it negotiates a peace agreement with Iran.

The concurrent resolution does not require presidential signature under the 1973 War Powers Resolution. A 1983 Supreme Court ruling held that such legislative veto measures must be presented to the president for signature or veto to have legal effect. A White House official told reporters the measure carries no force of law because it does not reach the president.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released Tuesday found that one in four Americans believe the war against Iran was worth its costs, while a majority said any truce with Tehran is unlikely to last. The vessels' operators have not been publicly identified by the U.S. government. Iran's foreign ministry has not commented as of the date of the Senate vote.