U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has called on Republican lawmakers to support a war powers resolution aimed at ending American involvement in the ongoing conflict with Iran, warning that continued military engagement could deepen risks for the United States.
Speaking on the floor of the United States Senate on Wednesday, Schumer strongly criticised President Donald Trump, arguing that the prolonged confrontation with Tehran is worsening both politically and strategically.
“Every day this disastrous war continues, Donald Trump digs himself deeper, and deeper, and deeper into a hole,” Schumer said, adding that delays in de-escalation could complicate diplomatic efforts.
He further argued that the Iranian government has become more hardline since the conflict began, making negotiations increasingly difficult.
“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,” he stated.
Schumer’s remarks come amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran following a series of military exchanges that began after joint strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets earlier this year. The strikes, launched on February 28, were described by U.S. officials as efforts to neutralise threats and dismantle elements of Iran’s nuclear programme.
In response, Iran launched retaliatory attacks using missiles and drones targeting Israeli positions and areas hosting U.S. military assets in the region. The escalation also led to the temporary disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route for oil and liquefied natural gas.
Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation have been ongoing, with Pakistan mediating talks between the two sides. A ceasefire brokered on April 8 provided a temporary halt to hostilities, followed by negotiations in Islamabad on April 11. However, those talks ended without a breakthrough, and further discussions are expected in the coming days.
On Tuesday, President Trump announced an extension of the ceasefire, saying the decision was made to allow Iran time to present a “unified proposal” for negotiations. The extension has been viewed by some lawmakers as a critical opportunity to push for a more lasting resolution.
Schumer acknowledged the extension as a positive step but stressed that Congress must act swiftly to prevent a return to active conflict. He urged Republican senators to support the proposed war powers resolution, which seeks to limit the president’s ability to continue military operations without explicit congressional approval.
“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,” he said.
The resolution is part of a broader effort by Democratic lawmakers to reassert congressional authority over decisions involving military action, particularly in conflicts that have not been formally authorised by Congress.
Last week, a similar Democratic-backed measure failed to pass in the Senate after it was blocked, allowing the administration to continue its military operations against Iran without additional legislative constraints.
Schumer indicated that Democrats would continue to bring the resolution forward for consideration, signalling a sustained push to force debate and votes on the issue.
“We will keep bringing this resolution to the floor every week until Republicans see reason and help us end this war,” he said.
The debate highlights ongoing divisions within the U.S. government over the scope of presidential war powers and the appropriate response to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Supporters of the resolution argue that Congress must play a decisive role in authorising military action, particularly in conflicts with far-reaching geopolitical and economic consequences. Opponents, however, contend that limiting executive authority could weaken the United States’ ability to respond swiftly to emerging threats.
Analysts say the outcome of the legislative push could have significant implications not only for U.S. foreign policy toward Iran but also for the broader balance of power between the executive and legislative branches in matters of national security.
As diplomatic efforts continue and the ceasefire holds for now, attention remains focused on whether Congress will intervene to shape the direction of U.S. involvement in the conflict or whether the administration will retain full control over military strategy in the region.
