On Thursday, July 24, 2026, U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) choked up during a Senate floor speech as he pointed to a bracelet honoring a fallen friend who was "cut in half" by an Iranian bomb. Sheehy used the moment to oppose the Iran War Powers Resolution, a Democratic-led effort that would have required the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress explicitly authorized the mission.

Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL and combat veteran, framed the conflict as a "war of choice" initiated decades ago by Iran’s regime, not by former President Donald Trump. He recounted numerous attacks tied to Iran and its proxies, including the 1983 Marine barracks bombing, the USS Cole attack, the Achille Lauro hijacking, and actions by terrorist groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.

Highlighting the bipartisan criticism of "forever wars," Sheehy emphasized, "when you’re fighting for your country, you don’t care what party’s in office." He accused critics of ignoring the long history of Iranian-backed attacks on Americans and stated, "We didn’t start this war, we did not. But, we will finish it."

The Senate ultimately rejected advancing the Iran War Powers Resolution in a close 47-49 vote. Sheehy’s remarks underscored the ongoing debate over U.S. military engagement with Iran amid rising costs and casualties.

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