Senate backs symbolic war powers measure on Iran; Trump lashes out at GOP defectors

The U.S. Senate narrowly approved a war powers resolution on Iran overnight, by 50 votes to 48, after the House of Representatives had already passed it. The measure says Congress wants the president to obtain approval before launching military action against Iran.

Four Republican senators joined Democrats in supporting the resolution, while two other Republicans abstained. Although the vote is symbolic and does not legally bind President Donald Trump, the cross-party support was seen as a political embarrassment for him.

Trump reacted angrily, saying, "Four loser Republicans voted with the Democrats, and just made my job harder, but I will get it done, one way or another, because I always do." In a post on his Truth Social account, he also called the Senate vote "meaningless" and said it was held at a bad time, claiming it gave Iran, which he described as the world’s leading sponsor of terror, "aid and comfort" and signaled that the U.S. does not like what he is doing.

Separately, Fox News reported that the cost of a U.S. war with Iran has reached $80 billion, twice the figure that was initially presented to Congress.