Democratic leader pushes US Senate to back war powers resolution on Iran

US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday urged Republicans to support a war powers resolution aimed at ending US involvement in the ongoing conflict with Iran.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Schumer slammed President Donald Trump, arguing that the prolonged conflict has deepened challenges for the administration.

"Every day this disastrous war continues, Donald Trump digs himself deeper, and deeper, and deeper into a hole," he said.

"The longer Trump waits to extricate himself from Iran, the deeper the hole gets ...the Iranian regime that the U.S. is trying to negotiate with, is even more hardline than when Trump began the war."

Schumer pointed to the temporary extension of the Iran ceasefire as a narrow window for congressional action.

The US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran on Feb. 28 on the pretext of removing threats and destroying its nuclear program. Tehran responded with missiles and drones targeting Israel and regional countries hosting US assets, and blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for oil and LNG shipping.

Pakistan brokered the truce on April 8, followed by talks in Islamabad on April 11 attended by senior delegations from both sides, but no agreement was reached. Another round of talks is expected this week, also in the Pakistani capital.

On Tuesday, Trump extended the two-week ceasefire to allow time for Tehran to prepare a “unified proposal,” following a request by Pakistani officials.

While Schumer expressed relief that the ceasefire deadline has been extended, he emphasized that lawmakers must act quickly to prevent further escalation.

"Congress needs to seize this opportunity to stop this blunder before the fighting resumes. I urge Senate Republicans to vote for our war powers resolution later today. That's their fifth opportunity to do so," Schumer said.

Last week, the upper chamber blocked a Democratic resolution that would limit Trump's ability to continue military operations against Iran without explicit congressional authorization.

Schumer said Democrats will continue to force votes on the resolution every week "until Republicans see reason and help us end this war."