Senate Rejects War Powers Resolution as Trump Expands Iran Conflict

Congressional Attempt to Limit Trump Fails

The U.S. Senate fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance a war powers resolution that would have forced President Trump to end military operations against Iran, with the measure failing 47-53 in a procedural vote Wednesday . Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to join Republicans in voting no, while Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky was the only Republican to join Democrats in voting yes .

The resolution, cosponsored by Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine and Republican Sen. Rand Paul, would have directed "the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress" . Kaine argued that lawmakers must go on record about war decisions, saying "If you don't have the guts to vote yes or no on a war vote, how dare you send our sons and daughters into war where they risk their lives" .

A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only 27 percent of Americans approved of the strikes against Iran while 43 percent disapproved . A CBS News poll found that most Americans disapprove of the war with Iran and think the Trump administration has not clearly explained its goals, with about half believing the war could last months or years .

Historic Naval Strike Intensifies Conflict

An American attack submarine sank an Iranian Navy ship off the coast of Sri Lanka, marking the first time since World War II that a U.S. submarine has sunk another vessel using a torpedo . Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the attack, describing it as a "quiet death" and noting it was "the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II" .

The Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, located about 40 nautical miles off Galle in southern Sri Lanka, sent out a distress call between 6am and 7am local time, with about 180 crew members on board . Sri Lanka's navy recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 sailors after the warship sank just outside the island's territorial waters .

The attack used a Mark 48 torpedo costing approximately $4.2 million, which destroyed the frigate within minutes . The Iranian vessel had been returning from participating in the 2026 International Fleet Review in eastern India's coastal city of Visakhapatnam .

Leadership Crisis Following Khamenei's Death

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was assassinated on February 28, 2026, as part of a series of Israeli airstrikes around Tehran, with his death confirmed by the Iranian government on March 1 . The assassination occurred as part of a wider joint operation by the United States and Israel, using intelligence from the CIA to determine the whereabouts of several Iranian leaders .

Following Article 111 of Iran's constitution, an Interim Leadership Council took over Khamenei's role, consisting of Alireza Arafi of the Guardian Council, Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i, Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and President Masoud Pezeshkian . According to The New York Times, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Supreme Leader, is the most likely successor .

Iranian civilian reactions to Khamenei's death were mixed, with some taking to the streets to celebrate in cities like Isfahan, Karaj, Kermanshah, Qazvin, Sanandaj, Shiraz, and Izeh . Iran declared 40 days of mourning and a seven-day national holiday, while Fars News Agency reported that Khamenei's daughter, son-in-law, grandchild, and daughter-in-law were also killed in the strikes .

Congressional Authority Under Fire

Some Republicans expressed growing concern that senior administration officials haven't given them clear answers about how long the conflict will last, with the operation potentially stretching well into spring . Sen. Andy Kim criticized Trump for "owning" the results of the conflict, including the death of six U.S. service members, arguing that congressional approval was needed since Defense Secretary Hegseth won't rule out deploying ground troops .

Even if both chambers were to eventually approve a war powers resolution on Iran, the outcome would be largely symbolic since the president could veto it, requiring a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate to override . The House is expected to vote down