Senate Republicans this Wednesday blocked, for the seventh time, a Democratic attempt to limit US military intervention in Iran and force President Donald Trump to seek authorization from Congress to continue the war operations that began on February 28.
The resolution, promoted by Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley, failed by a narrow margin of 49 votes in favor and 50 against. Although the Republican majority closed ranks to prevent its approval, three conservative legislators broke with their caucus: Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and Rand Paul voted with the Democrats to try to stop the war.
The vote also marked the first debate in the Senate since the 60-day deadline established by the War Powers Act of 1973 expired on May 1. which requires the US Executive to obtain formal authorization from Congress to maintain prolonged military actions.
Republicans defended that this deadline was suspended due to the honest ceasefire between Washington and Tehran. However, Democrats argue that hostilities continue in the region and that the Trump administration maintains military deployments and blockade operations.
Operation Sledgehammer?
There was never a deal on the desk. There shouldn’t be always an everlasting ceasefire. Trump is hellbent on never-ending battle within the Heart East.
We can care for forcing Battle Powers Resolutions votes until ample Republicans develop a backbone and vote with us to pause this battle for… https://t.co/0p34cHg7Jz
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) May 13, 2026
Before the vote, Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused President Donald Trump of engaging the country in “an endless war in the Middle East” without a clear strategy and without considering the economic impact on American families.
“Trump launched this war without understanding, without a clear objective, and without thinking about how it could affect the American people,” Schumer said. He also criticized that the president recently said that he does not think “about the financial situation of Americans,” while the conflict has raised the price of gasoline and the cost of living.
According to the Democratic senator, Pentagon officials acknowledged that the war has already cost American taxpayers billions of dollars. “$29 billion is just the initial cost,” Schumer said, warning that the economic impact will continue to grow.
Senator Jeff Merkley, sponsor of the resolution, described the military operation called “Epic Fury” as an “Epic Failure.”
“In this situation we do not have access to highly enriched uranium, we have strengthened the most intransigent Iranian sectors“We have weakened reformists and damaged our relationship with our allies,” Merkley said during the debate.
Republican Lisa Murkowski explained her change of position by arguing that the Trump administration has not clarified the true scope of the military operation or how long it will last. “I have not received clarity from the administration,” he declared after the vote.
Although Democratic resolutions have little chance of succeeding in a Congress controlled by Republicans, the opposition has decided to present new votes every week to put political pressure on the ruling majority and force it to speak publicly about the war.
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