The United States Senate has voted down a resolution that sought to limit President Donald Trump’s authority to conduct military operations against Iran, leaving the administration with broad powers to continue the ongoing conflict.

In a closely divided vote, senators rejected a resolution that would have required the president to seek approval from United States Congress before launching further military strikes against Iran. The measure failed by 53 votes to 47, largely along party lines.

The measure, introduced by Senator Tim Kaine, aimed to require the president to obtain authorisation from the United States Congress before carrying out further military strikes against Iran. However, the proposal failed in the Senate after most Republican lawmakers voted against it.

Supporters of the resolution argued that the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the authority to declare war and that lawmakers should have a direct role in determining whether the United States becomes further involved in hostilities with Iran.

Opponents of the measure, however, maintained that the president, as commander-in-chief of the U.S. armed forces, must retain the ability to act quickly in response to security threats. They warned that restricting the president’s authority during an ongoing conflict could undermine military operations and weaken the country’s strategic position.

The vote comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following joint military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets. The attacks have sparked a broader regional confrontation, with Iran launching retaliatory strikes and raising fears of a wider war.

Although a similar resolution could still be considered by the United States House of Representatives, the Senate vote represents a major setback for lawmakers seeking to curb presidential war powers.