Senate defeats war powers resolution on Iran 47-48 vote

A narrowly divided U.S. Senate failed on Tuesday, June 16, to advance a measure that would have directed President Donald Trump to end unauthorized military hostilities against Iran. The procedural motion to bring a war powers resolution sponsored by Senator Raphael Warnock, a Democrat from Georgia, out of committee was defeated in a vote of 47-48, marking the ninth unsuccessful attempt by lawmakers to assert congressional control over the conflict.

The vote was largely along party lines, but saw four Republican senators-Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana-cross the aisle to support the Democratic-led effort. Conversely, Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voted with most Republicans against the measure. Five senators were absent for the vote.

The legislative action unfolded as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle pressed the Trump administration for details about a diplomatic breakthrough the president announced on Sunday. Trump declared that an agreement with Iran to end months of fighting was complete, though the text of the deal had not been released. Officials have said a Memorandum of...