Senate Rejects Resolution to Block Further Military Action Against Iran

The vote comes about halfway through a two-week ceasefire, during which U.S. forces have enacted a blockade of Iranian ports.

Nathan Worcester

Senior Reporter
|Updated: 
The U.S. Capitol on April 13, 2026. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times

The U.S. Senate on April 15 voted against advancing a resolution to halt further U.S. military operations against Iran.

Senators voted 52–47 against advancing the bill.

The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), came as a privileged motion under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which was designed to constrain a president’s ability to prosecute military action without congressional approval. A privileged motion is given the highest priority in the Senate over other matters and allows an immediate debate and vote on the floor.

Duckworth’s resolution specifically calls for the removal of U.S. forces “from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.”

Democrats brought the resolution to a vote a week after President Donald Trump approved a two-week ceasefire to pursue further negotiations with the Iranian regime.

Washington and Tehran concluded a round of talks over the weekend without reaching an agreement on Iran’s nuclear pursuits, raising the potential for renewed fighting in the near future. Since then, Trump has ordered U.S. forces to enact a blockade of Iranian ports.

Speaking with reporters on April 13, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) raised concerns that the current U.S. blockade of Iran could fuel further hostilities, including with other nations such as China.

“I don’t think our Navy is prepared, and I don’t think our country is prepared, to begin interdicting Chinese ships and ships of all nations as they go in and out,” Coons said.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) similarly raised concerns about a U.S. blockade of Iran leading to further conflict.

“So far as we’ve heard, they haven’t had to stop any ships, but that will be the inflection point,” Blumenthal said.

Several Republicans have shown a preference to wait for the Iran conflict to play out a little longer.

Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, a president has 60 days to conclude relevant U.S. military actions in a conflict lacking congressional authorization. After that 60-day mark, a president may seek an additional 30 days to carry out military actions if he certifies to Congress that such actions serve an “unavoidable military necessity.”

The April 15 vote came 47 days after U.S. forces, working in conjunction with Israeli forces, commenced attacks on Iran.

Asked on April 13 whether he would support a war powers resolution, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said, “Not this week, but we’ve got to start answering questions.” Tillis went on to say that the 60-day mark is his target time frame for Congress to weigh in more forcefully.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), likewise, indicated that he intends to give the Trump administration the statutorily-defined 60 days to bring the Iran conflict to a conclusion and that he would consider the 30-day extension. Hawley expressed a desire to see a clear exit strategy, particularly as the conflict has caused disruptions to global fuel and fertilizer markets, spiking prices.

“I do think it’s time to think about how this comes to a conclusion,” Hawley told reporters this week.

In an interview with The New York Post published on April 14, Trump indicated that talks with Iran could resume this week.
Ryan Morgan
Author
Nathan Worcester
Senior Reporter