The U.S. Senate is poised to vote imminently on a Democratic-led resolution aimed at curbing President Donald Trump’s authority to conduct military operations in Iran without explicit congressional approval. The vote is expected as soon as April 15, with Democrats pledging to persist in introducing similar measures for the duration of the conflict, which began on February 28.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Republican senators on April 14 for blocking efforts to reclaim congressional war powers. “Forty-five days into this war, Congress has been sidelined because our Republican colleagues refuse to take a strong stand against this war,” Schumer said. Democratic lawmakers have repeatedly sought to require the administration to obtain congressional authorization before undertaking further military action in Iran, echoing previous attempts related to Venezuela.

The Democratic push links Washington’s military intervention to rising consumer prices domestically. Disruptions to oil and natural gas shipments caused by the conflict have exacerbated inflation, fueling increases in gasoline costs and agricultural commodities such as fertilizer. Rising prices pose political challenges ahead of the November congressional elections, heightening the stakes for both parties.

Schumer noted that ten additional war powers resolutions have been filed, with the intention to bring one to the Senate floor each week while hostilities persist. Senate Republicans, holding slim majorities in both chambers, have uniformly opposed the measures, citing support for Trump’s strategy and optimism that the conflict will not be prolonged.

Senate Republican leader John Thune characterized the military campaign as “extraordinarily successful,” adding that the administration has “a clear objective” and a plan that would render congressional approval unnecessary for continued operations. Republican lawmakers emphasize that Trump’s limited military actions fall within constitutional authority granted to the president as commander-in-chief during short-term engagements or imminent threats.

The timing of the Senate vote had not been formally announced by late April 14 but was expected within 24 hours, with a comparable vote anticipated in the House on April 16. The resolution is sponsored by Senator Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat and combat veteran.

Amid congressional debates, diplomatic talks to end the conflict showed tentative signs of progress. Negotiations in Islamabad over the weekend collapsed, prompting Washington to impose a naval blockade on Iranian ports. The blockade, enforced by more than a dozen U.S. warships, aimed to halt shipments to and from Iran. Within 24 hours, no vessels breached the blockade, and several merchant ships turned back. However, maritime data indicated continued activity through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil transit point that Iran has effectively closed.

Key issues in the stalled negotiations centered on Iran’s nuclear program. The U.S. sought a two-decade suspension of Iranian nuclear activities and the removal of enriched material, while Tehran proposed a shorter halt of three to five years. Subsequent back-channel discussions reportedly narrowed these differences, potentially paving the way for renewed formal talks. Given the complexity of the 2015 nuclear agreement, which the Trump administration withdrew from in 2018, any new deal would likely require extensive monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The conflict’s economic repercussions remain significant. Oil prices briefly fell below $100 per barrel on April 14 amid diplomatic optimism but continue to threaten global energy security. The International Monetary Fund recently downgraded its economic growth forecast, warning that sustained high oil prices and expanded conflict risk tipping the global economy into recession. The International Energy Agency also reduced its projections for future oil supply and demand growth, underscoring persistent uncertainty in energy markets.