WASHINGTON — Despite skyrocketing fuel prices and sinking approval ratings for President Donald Trump’s conflict in Iran ahead of the November midterms, Senate Republicans blocked Democrats’ efforts Thursday to check the president’s unfettered military action in the Middle East.
Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., joined Democrats in supporting the House-approved Iran War Powers Resolution.
But the number of Republicans who wanted to curb Trump’s prolonged military action in the Islamic Republic fell short in the final tally of 49-50.
While Collins, Murkowski and Paul have supported Iran War Powers Resolutions over the past several months, Thursday’s vote marked the first time the retiring Tillis crossed the aisle on the issue.
The North Carolina Republican announced he would not seek reelection after Trump publicly harangued him for voting against the “big beautiful bill” in July 2025.
Sen. John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, voted against the resolution, as he has on more than a dozen occasions. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., did not vote.
Senate Republicans locked in tight races, including one who spoke out about the war just one day ago, voted against the measure.
Sen. Jon Husted, who is facing a heated challenge in Ohio from former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, said Wednesday, “The war needs to come to an end as quickly as possible so that we can lower gas prices,” according to Politico.
Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, who’s facing a challenge from Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola, and Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican facing an increasingly tight race, also voted no.
House passes resolution
The block in the Senate comes after seven House Republicans, including two vulnerable Iowa incumbents who for the first time supported halting the Iran conflict via a War Powers Resolution, jumped on board with Democrats Sept. 15 to pass the measure 220-204.
Iowa Republicans Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks both face tough reelection bids rated as “toss-ups” by the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter.
The war has dragged on since late February, ricocheting through the Middle East and disrupting global oil supplies. Americans are paying on average $1.30 more per gallon of gasoline than they were a year ago, according to AAA. Diesel hit a record high national average of $6.52 Tuesday.
Trump mulls war options
Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signaled this week neither were ready to settle the conflict when they addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.
Trump contemplated aloud whether he would “annihilate” Iran’s population “with no chance of survival” if the Islamic Republic leaders refused to make a deal. Trump has made similar comments as far back as April, when he was still promising a swift end to the conflict.
Thursday’s vote marks the 15th time Senate Democrats have forced an Iran War Powers Resolution on the floor. Thursday’s vote was on Washington state Democrat Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s resolution that passed the House on July 23.
A similar measure squeaked through the Senate 50-48 on June 23, when Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., joined Collins, Murkowski and Paul in support – though two Republicans, Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell and Pennsylvania’s Dave McCormick, were absent.
Cassidy lost the Senate Republican primary recently after Trump endorsed another candidate. But Cassidy voted against the latest War Powers Resolution Thursday.
Diesel export ban
Iowa’s longtime Sen. Chuck Grassley urged the White House as recently as Wednesday to ban diesel oil exports.
Trump administration officials have so far tiptoed around the issue of halting diesel exports. The White House denied a Politico report Wednesday claiming the administration was preparing for a 90-day embargo. Energy Secretary Chris Wright reportedly told Reuters Wednesday that an export ban would put “upward pressure” on the oil market and increase prices.
A White House official denied the Politico report in an email to States Newsroom Thursday.
But Trump signaled Tuesday that he’s “been talking about it” and supports the idea, according to reporters who traveled with him to New York.
Global petroleum supply is backlogged as Iran maintains its stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen gain more control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Both narrow passageways on either side of the Arabian Peninsula are major transit points for crude oil and liquid natural gas exports, among other commodities like fertilizer.
Ukraine’s recent strikes on Russian oil refineries are also contributing to rising fuel prices. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sharply criticized Russia during his address at the U.N. Wednesday.
