Senate Challenges Trump on Iran War Powers as Ceasefire Strains Stalled Talks

Pressure is mounting in Washington as the U.S. Senate prepares for a Democratic-led vote on a war powers resolution. The resolution challenges President Trump’s authority to continue operations in Iran, noting that the conflict surpassed the 60-day War Powers Resolution deadline on May 11. While the White House argues that the fragile ceasefire established in early April fulfills legal obligations, Republican senators like Rand Paul and Lisa Murkowski have demanded more transparency regarding the cost of the war and the current status of munitions stocks, which are reportedly down 25%. On the diplomatic front, President Trump has praised Pakistan’s role as an intermediary following intelligence reports that Islamabad allowed Iranian fighter jets to be stored on its territory during the peak of the recent conflict. This quiet facilitation by Pakistan comes as energy markets face continued volatility; Brent crude dipped to $92 a barrel on May 12, though a 10-week blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has kept shipping insurance costs 40% higher than average. Domestically, the conflict's economic impact is intensifying. New data shows U.S. gasoline prices have jumped 15% over the past year, prompting the Trump administration to extend the federal gas tax holiday indefinitely at a projected cost of $15 billion. While the ceasefire continues to hold without reported military violations, the National Iranian American Council has called for humanitarian corridors to address a 20% spike in food prices in Tehran, emphasizing the growing humanitarian and economic toll of the ongoing blockade.