Senate Republicans narrowly blocked an effort to limit President Donald Trump’s authority in the conflict with Iran as a peace agreement starts to form. This attempt, led by Sen. Raphael Warnock, coincided with Trump’s recent memorandum of understanding with Iran, which could potentially end the war. Although the details of this deal remain vague, Republicans stood by Trump.

Efforts to Limit War Powers

Sen. Tim Kaine has been at the forefront of the Democrats’ attempts to restrict war powers. He argued that discussions with Congress are essential and should have occurred before any military engagement. Kaine emphasized the importance of using the current pause in conflict to ensure Congressional input, as mandated by the Constitution.

Despite gaining some bipartisan support, Warnock’s resolution did not pass. Previously, a similar effort had advanced in the Senate with help from Senators Susan Collins, Bill Cassidy, Lisa Murkowski, and Rand Paul, who joined Democrats against the war.

Republican Concerns

Senate Foreign Relations Chair James Risch contended that Democrats’ efforts could jeopardize the U.S.-Iran deal. He argued that if the resolution passed, Iran might withdraw from negotiations.

“If a miracle happened and this passed, Iran would not agree to the negotiated terms,” Risch said.

Waiting for Details

Congress awaits more information on the emerging deal, which has not been made public. Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated he has not received a briefing. Thune expressed the expectation that the administration would eventually present details to Congress.

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy indicated skepticism about the deal, suggesting it could disadvantage the U.S.

“It’s essentially a surrender,” Murphy noted. “But it’s necessary to stop the war and its consequences.”