On Thursday, July 24, 2026, U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), a former combat veteran, delivered an emotional speech on the Senate floor opposing the Iran War Powers Resolution. Sheehy choked up as he pointed to a bracelet honoring a fallen friend who was "cut in half" by an Iranian bomb, highlighting the human cost of conflict with Iran.
The resolution, led by Democrats, sought to require explicit congressional authorization for U.S. forces to remain engaged in hostilities against Iran. However, the Senate rejected advancing the measure in a close 47-49 vote.
Sheehy argued that while Democrats correctly labeled the conflict a "war of choice," the decision was made decades ago by Iran’s regime, not by President Donald Trump. He recounted decades of Iranian-backed attacks on Americans, including the 1983 Marine barracks bombing, the USS Cole attack, and incidents involving terrorist groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
He emphasized that the regime in Iran does not consider U.S. partisan politics and stated, "And forever wars are not popular with anybody these days. Both sides of [the aisle] love to attack our forever wars. And I can promise you, being someone overseas wearing the uniform, when you’re fighting for your country, you don’t care what party’s in office."
Sheehy concluded with a resolute message: "We didn’t start this war, we did not. But, we will finish it."
The debate reflects ongoing tensions in U.S. policy toward Iran and the broader Middle East, with Republicans largely aligning with President Trump on continuing military engagement despite rising costs and casualties.
Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., during Senate votes at the U.S. Capitol on June 17, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
An armed member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps monitors mourners at the funeral for late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran on July 6, 2026. (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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