The U.S. House of Representatives has voted for the third time to end the war in Iran, approving a resolution under the War Powers Act aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s ability to continue military operations without congressional authorization.
The resolution passed late Tuesday by a vote of 220 to 204. The result was similar to previous efforts during the summer, but this time seven Republicans joined all Democrats in supporting the measure.
However, neither of the previous resolutions reached the president, and such a measure would be expected to face a veto from Trump.
Democrat Seth Moulton, a former U.S. Marine and one of the resolution’s sponsors, criticized the continuation of the conflict.
“Do you remember when Donald Trump said this war would last only a few weeks?” Moulton said, arguing that Congress must exercise its constitutional authority and demand accountability for the administration’s military decisions.
Republican Brian Mast, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, questioned which U.S. military resources Democrats would want withdrawn from the region, emphasizing that Iran continues to pose a threat to the United States.
Mast said Trump opposes “endless wars” and that the administration is seeking to bring an end to decades of hostility with Iran.
“They remain a persistent threat to the United States. Enough is enough,” he said.
Tuesday’s vote is expected to be one of the House’s final actions on the war in Iran before the midterm elections.
The conflict, launched by Trump on February 28, has continued for nearly seven months, with intermittent periods of deadly missile attacks that have caused widespread destabilization and significant damage across the region.
U.S. lawmakers are preparing to leave Washington to return to the campaign trail, with fewer than 50 days remaining before the elections that will determine control of Congress.
Meanwhile, the conflict is also affecting the U.S. economy. Disruptions to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have contributed to rising fuel prices, making the economic cost of the war an increasingly important issue for voters.
According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the war had cost the United States more than $38 billion as of August 1.
The CBO estimates that the conflict is currently costing the U.S. government approximately $2 billion to $3 billion per month, depending on the intensity of the fighting.
The agency has also projected that the war will raise inflation by approximately 0.5 percentage points above earlier projections through 2027.
During his campaign for a second term, Trump had promised that the United States would not become involved in new wars abroad. Now, the military intervention in Iran is becoming an increasingly significant issue for the Republican Party, which controls both chambers of Congress.
In the House’s two previous votes, only four Republicans had supported efforts to limit the war in Iran.
They included Zachary Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa, an important electoral state, as well as Nancy Mace of South Carolina, who is leaving Congress.
They were joined by Tom Barrett of Michigan, Warren Davidson of Ohio, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, and Thomas Massie of Kentucky, along with all House Democrats.
Congress has attempted several times to alter the course of the conflict, but efforts to restrict the Trump administration’s military actions face significant obstacles as long as the president can block or veto measures passed by lawmakers.
The House passed similar resolutions in June and July, while the Senate had approved such a measure in its tenth attempt. However, Republican senators reversed course the following day after Trump sharply criticized them during a private lunch.
The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the authority to declare war, while the president, as commander in chief of the armed forces, has the authority to undertake certain military actions.
The War Powers Act, enacted after the Vietnam War, sought to establish clearer limits on presidential military authority. In particular, the law requires congressional authorization for prolonged military operations beyond a specified period of 60 to 90 days.
House Speaker Mike Johnson also acknowledged that fuel prices need to come down. However, he said he believes the conflict with Iran is entering a “new phase,” as U.S. allies increase their efforts to help stabilize the region.
Johnson said he expects the change to be felt after the elections, adding that he would like to see fuel prices fall “starting today.”
