Congress recently faced a stark divide over efforts to curb President Donald Trump’s resumed war with Iran, as violence in the region intensified and oil prices surged past $100 per barrel. On Thursday, the Senate narrowly voted 49-47 to block a joint resolution under the War Powers Act that sought to force Trump to halt hostilities in Iran. This marked the first Senate effort to end the conflict since Trump notified Congress that he had restarted military operations following failed peace negotiations.

Earlier the same day, the House approved a concurrent resolution, 214-208, also invoking the War Powers Act to reject the ongoing conflict in Iran. Although this measure does not require the president’s signature and lacks binding legal force, it expresses Congressional disapproval of the administration’s military strategy. The renewed fighting threatens to disrupt the Republican Party’s efforts to preserve their slim majorities in the upcoming midterm elections.

Senator Chris Van Hollen, who sponsored the Senate resolution, urged Congress to take accountability by voting to end what he described as a "bad war." Notably, Republican Senator Susan Collins supported the resolution amid a challenging re-election campaign in the predominantly Democratic state of Maine. Conversely, many Republicans cautioned that forcing a withdrawal now could harm U.S. credibility abroad and might undermine the administration’s negotiating leverage.

Amid the political turmoil, the escalating conflict has driven significant spikes in global oil prices with Brent crude topping $100 and U.S. crude exceeding $91 per barrel. This has consequently pushed U.S. gasoline prices to an average of $4.09 per gallon, adding fuel to economic and political uncertainties as the country approaches the critical midterm elections.