Thursday, May 21Thursday, May 21The U.S. Senate has advanced a resolution aimed at restricting President Donald Trump’s authority to wage war against Iran. The measure, which passed a preliminary vote 50-47, seeks to force Trump to halt military operations following attacks initiated in late February. Senator Bill Cassidy switched his vote to support the resolution, contributing to its progress . Democrats have repeatedly pushed for such limitations on Trump’s war powers since the conflict escalated.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance has stated that the U.S. remains "locked and loaded" for military action if negotiations with Iran fail. Vance emphasized that Iran must agree to never develop nuclear weapons, warning that the U.S. is prepared to resume strikes if talks collapse. Trump has similarly threatened further military action, claiming the U.S. could launch another "big hit" on Tehran if a deal is not reached soon . Trump has also claimed that Tehran is seeking a deal but remains prepared to escalate militarily if necessary .
Iran has issued warnings in response to U.S. threats, with military spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia stating that Iran would open "new fronts" against the U.S. if hostilities resume. Tehran has accused the U.S. of falling into a "Zionist trap" and vowed to respond with "new equipment and new methods" if attacked again . The impasse in negotiations has heightened tensions, with Trump suggesting he was "an hour away" from ordering additional strikes on Tehran .
> Background: **US-Iran talks stall as military threats escalate amid deadlocked demands** — *12 hours ago*
More LFE coverage on this topic
Senate sends bill to end Iran war to final vote In a preliminary vote on Tuesday, a US Senate majority voted 50 to 47 for a proposal aimed at forcing President Donald Trump to stop the war against Iran. Democrats have repeatedly proposed limiting Trumps war powers since the US and Israel launched a first wave of attacks against Iran in late February. According to […]
cphpost · about 21 hours ago
Vance: US locked and loaded for military action if Iran talks fail US Vice President JD Vance says the US is prepared to take military action if Iran does not agree to a nuclear deal
aljazeera · about 23 hours ago
Iran war live: Tehran warns of many more surprises if conflict resumes Warning comes after Trump threatened military action against Iran and gave it two to three days to strike a deal.
aljazeera · 1 day ago
Senate advances measure to end Iran war as Bill Cassidy flips vote Since President Trump ordered an attack on Iran at the end of February, Democrats have repeatedly forced votes on war powers resolutions
independent · 1 day ago
Iran-US war latest: Vance not certain about peace deal as he warns US military locked and loaded to resume strikes The US president earlier said the military may launch another big hit on Tehran if a peace deal is not agreed
independent · 1 day ago
Iran-US war latest: Vice president Vance warns US locked and loaded to restart strikes if peace talks fail The US president earlier said the military may launch another big hit on Tehran if a peace deal is not agreed
independent · 1 day ago
JD Vance says US remains locked and loaded to restart military campaign as Iran warns of new fronts – as it happened US vice-president says Iran must agree to never have a nuclear weapon; Tehran warns US against resuming hostilitiesTrump threatens a big hit if Tehran does not make deal soonIrans army has warned it would open new fronts against the US if it resumes attacks on the country amid reports that Donald Trump is weighing up restarting military operations in Iran amid an impasse in negotiations.If the enemy is foolish enough to fall into the Zionist trap again and launches new aggression against our beloved Iran, we will open new fronts against it, with new equipment and new methods, army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia said, according to Irans ISNA news agency. Continue reading...
theguardian · 1 day ago
Trump says US may strike Iran again but that Tehran wants deal
news.yahoo.com · 1 day ago
Iran-US war latest: Trump says he was an hour away from Tehran strikes as peace process hangs in the balance The US president said the military may launch another big hit on Tehran if a peace deal is not agreed
independent · 1 day ago
Middle East crisis live: JD Vance says US remains locked and loaded to restart military campaign as Iran warns of new fronts US vice-president says Iran must agree to never have a nuclear weapon; Tehran warns US against resuming hostilities Irans army has warned it would open new fronts against the US if it resumes attacks on the country amid reports that Donald Trump is weighing up restarting military operations in Iran amid an impasse in negotiations.If the enemy is foolish enough to fall into the Zionist trap again and launches new aggression against our beloved Iran, we will open new fronts against it, with new equipment and new methods, army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia said, according to Irans ISNA news agency. Continue reading...
theguardian · 1 day ago
Trump says US could attack Iran again but that Tehran wants deal
news.yahoo.com · 1 day ago
Donald Trump says he must be involved in choosing Irans next supreme leader, reports say – US politics live US president tells Axios Iranians are wasting their time. Khameneis son is a lightweight; House to vote on war powers after Senate effort failsSenate votes down resolution to prevent Trump from continuing Iran warSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxDonald Trump said that he would endorse a candidate in the heated Texas GOP runoff soon.This comes as neither the four-term incumbent, senator John Cornyn, or the state attorney general, Ken Paxton, received 50 of the votes in Tuesdays primary. Continue reading...
theguardian · 3 months ago
Trump says he needs to be involved in selecting Irans next leader, Axios reports
news.yahoo.com · 3 months ago
Trump says he has to be involved in picking next Iran leader and Khameneis son is unacceptable I have to be involved in the appointment, the Republican president said in an interview
independent · 3 months ago
![Exclusive: Trump says he must be involved in picking Irans next leader President Trump told Axios in an interview Thursday that he needs to be personally involved in selecting Irans next leader — just as he was in Venezuela.Trump revealed this exclusively in an eight-minute phone call — his second conversation with us to explain his war planning.Why it matters: Trump acknowledged that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of assassinated supreme leader Ali Khamenei, is the most likely successor — while making clear he finds that outcome unacceptable.For several days, the Iranian regime has postponed the announcement of the new supreme leader. But statements by Iranian politicians on Thursday suggested an announcement could be imminent.What hes saying: They are wasting their time. Khameneis son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela, Trump said.He added that he refuses to accept a new Iranian leader who would continue Khameneis policies, which he said would force the U.S. back to war in five years.Khameneis son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran, Trump said.The big picture: Trumps comments represent an extraordinary claim of American power over Irans political future, further muddying the objectives of the massive U.S. military campaign he launched on Saturday.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other U.S. officials have denied that the goal of the operation is regime change, focusing instead on degrading Irans missile capabilities, nuclear program and Navy.Asked Tuesday who could replace Khamenei, Trump told reporters at the White House: Most of the people we had in mind are dead.The backdrop: Mojtaba Khamenei — the 56-year-old son of the assassinated supreme leader — has emerged as the frontrunner to succeed his father, though no formal announcement has been made.A hardline cleric with deep ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Khamenei has never held public office.Israel bombed the Iranian building in Qom housing the clerical body responsible for selecting Irans next supreme leader on Tuesday, seeking to disrupt the vote-counting.Between the lines: Trump compared the Iran succession to his intervention in Venezuela, where vice president Delcy Rodriguez took over after U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro in January.In his State of the Union address, Trump called Venezuela our new friend and partner and said the U.S. had received more than 80 million barrels of oil since the Maduro operation.Trump praised Rodriguez on Wednesday — saying the oil is beginning to flow — after Interior Secretary Doug Burgum visited Caracas and Rodriguez announced plans to reform the countrys mining laws.](https://images.axios.com/_HXn8KE-VZtLI4cFOQrxkgDEPEI=/0x872:8370x5580/1366x768/2026/03/05/1772726898333.jpeg)
Exclusive: Trump says he must be involved in picking Irans next leader President Trump told Axios in an interview Thursday that he needs to be personally involved in selecting Irans next leader — just as he was in Venezuela.Trump revealed this exclusively in an eight-minute phone call — his second conversation with us to explain his war planning.Why it matters: Trump acknowledged that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of assassinated supreme leader Ali Khamenei, is the most likely successor — while making clear he finds that outcome unacceptable.For several days, the Iranian regime has postponed the announcement of the new supreme leader. But statements by Iranian politicians on Thursday suggested an announcement could be imminent.What hes saying: They are wasting their time. Khameneis son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela, Trump said.He added that he refuses to accept a new Iranian leader who would continue Khameneis policies, which he said would force the U.S. back to war in five years.Khameneis son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran, Trump said.The big picture: Trumps comments represent an extraordinary claim of American power over Irans political future, further muddying the objectives of the massive U.S. military campaign he launched on Saturday.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other U.S. officials have denied that the goal of the operation is regime change, focusing instead on degrading Irans missile capabilities, nuclear program and Navy.Asked Tuesday who could replace Khamenei, Trump told reporters at the White House: Most of the people we had in mind are dead.The backdrop: Mojtaba Khamenei — the 56-year-old son of the assassinated supreme leader — has emerged as the frontrunner to succeed his father, though no formal announcement has been made.A hardline cleric with deep ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Khamenei has never held public office.Israel bombed the Iranian building in Qom housing the clerical body responsible for selecting Irans next supreme leader on Tuesday, seeking to disrupt the vote-counting.Between the lines: Trump compared the Iran succession to his intervention in Venezuela, where vice president Delcy Rodriguez took over after U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro in January.In his State of the Union address, Trump called Venezuela our new friend and partner and said the U.S. had received more than 80 million barrels of oil since the Maduro operation.Trump praised Rodriguez on Wednesday — saying the oil is beginning to flow — after Interior Secretary Doug Burgum visited Caracas and Rodriguez announced plans to reform the countrys mining laws.
axios · 3 months ago
Trump has no phase two plan for Iran, says senator briefed on war Intelligence committee member Mark Warner suggests administration has failed to outline next steps in briefings
financial times · 3 months ago
US Senate rejects war powers bill to halt attacks against Iran As the US-Israeli war on Iran spirals, US Senate Republicans rejected a war powers measure demanding congressional approval before further attacks. A twin House bill faces the same long odds in the Republican-controlled Congress, and Trump would almost certainly veto it anyway.
france24 · 3 months ago
Trump has no phase two plan for Iran war, says US senator Intelligence committee member Mark Warner suggests administration has failed to outline next steps in briefings
financial times · 3 months ago
Top Democrat warns Trump has given no sign of a plan for phase two in Iran war Virginia senator Mark Warner says briefings have failed to outline next steps in conflict
financial times · 3 months ago
House to vote on limiting Trumps powers in Iran war after Senate measure fails – US politics live House decision is expected to be tight after war powers resolution in the Senate fell apart along party linesSenate votes down resolution to prevent Trump from continuing Iran warSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxDonald Trump is in Washington today. We wont hear from the president until 4pm ET, when he welcomes the Inter Miami FC, the 2025 Major League Soccer Champions, to the White House.Well be listening out for the latest lines on the US-Israel war in Iran. Continue reading...
theguardian · 3 months ago
No to Israel: US veteran violently dragged from Senate during protest Footage posted by the anti-war womens group Code Pink and verified by Reuters shows US Marine veteran Brian McGinnis shouting slogans such as no one wants to fight for Israel as he interrupts a Senate Armed Services subcommittee hearing. Shortly before, the US veteran posted a video on social media saying he was at the Senate to demand explanations about the deployment of US troops to the Middle East and to protest against the war in Iran.
france24 · 3 months ago
US Senate backs Trump on Iran strikes, blocks bid to limit his war powers US Senate Republicans backed President Donald Trumps military campaign against Iran on Wednesday, voting to block a bipartisan resolution aiming to stop the air war and require that any hostilities against Iran be authorized by Congress.
france24 · 3 months ago