Senate Moves to Curb War Powers as U.S.-Iran Peace Talks Intensify

On Tuesday, June 23, the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan war powers resolution in a 50–48 vote, signaling a legislative push to curb President Trump’s military engagement with Iran. The resolution, supported by four Republicans and nearly all Democrats, urges the withdrawal of U.S. forces and asserts Congressional authority over future military actions. Simultaneously, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Pakistan for mediated negotiations intended to secure a permanent end to the conflict that began in February. These talks build upon prior frameworks established in Switzerland between Vice President JD Vance and Iranian officials. The diplomatic progress follows a 14-point interim memorandum of understanding signed on June 17, which seeks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and bring International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors back to Iran. While the U.S. lifted its naval blockade on June 18, the IRGC briefly re-declared the strait closed over the weekend, citing non-implementation and Israeli strikes in Lebanon. Under the current agreement, Iran has 30 days to clear mines from the waterway, while the U.S. has until July 19 to fully lift its port blockade. Despite these breakthroughs, the transition to peace remains fragile. Renewed violence in Lebanon has complicated the de-escalation efforts, and security analysts warn that the current framework leaves Iran’s missile programs and enriched uranium stockpiles largely untouched. President Pezeshkian has maintained that Iran will not relinquish its right to enrich uranium, setting the stage for 60 days of intensive follow-on technical negotiations to address the core drivers of the conflict.