The U.S. Senate on Wednesday voted largely along party lines to block a bipartisan resolution that would have sought to halt President Donald Trump’s military strikes against **Iran and require Congressional authorization for future hostilities. With a vote of 53 to 47, mostly Republicans opposed advancing the war powers resolution, effectively supporting Trump’s ongoing military campaign.

The resolution, spearheaded by Democrats and a few Republican lawmakers, aimed to reassert Congress’s constitutional role in declaring war, arguing that Trump exceeded his authority by directing military actions without legislative approval. Opponents maintained that the president’s actions were legal under his authority as commander in chief and necessary to protect U.S. interests. Republican Senator Jim Risch of Idaho described the strikes as limited and temporary, asserting the president has the right to defend the nation.

The vote marks another challenge for lawmakers seeking to rein in executive war powers in the context of an expanding conflict that the administration argues responds to threats posed by Iran. With narrow Republican control of the Senate and House, further efforts to curb Trump’s authority face significant obstacles, and a similar measure is expected to be considered by the House of Representatives.