President Donald Trump delivers a speech at a rally launching the Great American State Fair, celebrating the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., June 24, 2026.— Reuters
– Republicans oppose a late-night vote aimed at defeating a war powers resolution.
– Trump requests Congress allocate $70 billion to finance the conflict.
– Lebanon and Israel discuss the potential withdrawal of troops.
In Washington, President Donald Trump drew sharp criticism within a closed-door Republican meeting over the Iran conflict, just before his administration sought tens of billions of dollars from Congress for the war effort.
Several attendees reported Trump engaged in a heated exchange with Senator Bill Cassidy, who called for clarity on a framework deal Trump signed last week. The deal provides Iran with financial incentives but does not fully meet the initial objectives Trump outlined at the start of the conflict.
Cassidy told reporters, “The American people deserve to know more than what we’re being told. It seems, although I can’t say for sure, that the course of this isn’t unfolding as previously communicated.”
Later that day, Senate Republican leaders scheduled a late-night vote to block a resolution calling for a halt to hostilities with Iran, seemingly to align with the president’s stance. The Senate’s vote was 50 to 47, mainly along party lines, to eliminate a war powers resolution that had advanced in May via a procedural vote.
Cassidy, who previously supported recent Iran war resolutions, voted against this measure. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, also a supporter of war resolutions, voted present. Maine’s Susan Collins and Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski voted in favor of the resolution alongside most Democrats. Democratic Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania was the only one to oppose. Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell and Colorado’s Michael Bennet abstained from voting.
Following the vote, Trump took to social media, stating, “This vote puts Iran on notice,” although it didn’t influence the earlier decision.
The ongoing debate over Iran’s military actions continues to influence Trump’s Republican support, especially with November elections approaching that will determine control of Congress. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll indicates only one in four Americans thinks the war has been worth its costs, the lowest approval rating since Trump’s return to office last year.
The day before, the Senate passed a resolution urging Trump to end the war, with Cassidy and three other Republicans joining opposition Democrats. Trump did not address the confrontation with Cassidy, who was defeated earlier this year in a primary backed by Trump. Later, the president criticized the Senate’s actions, remarking at the White House, “Iran sees that, they go, ‘What’s that all about?’ Now you understand—it’s meaningless.”
Later on Wednesday, the administration requested $70 billion from Congress to cover the war costs, adding to the $867 billion military budget.
Cassidy expressed appreciation online (via X) for a briefing from Vice President JD Vance and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff regarding Iran, stating, “I appreciate the quick invitation to the White House to discuss my concerns.”
Oil prices fell to their lowest point since before the conflict began, as the initial agreement between the U.S. and Iran lifted restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, allowing traffic to resume. Prior to the blockade, the strait accounted for about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
However, conflicting interpretations of the deal have sparked criticism domestically and internationally. Disputes center on Iran’s potential financial benefits, inspections of nuclear facilities, control of the Strait, and Israel’s confrontation with Lebanon. The agreement sets a 60-day negotiation period to address more complex issues like Iran’s nuclear program.
In the Middle East, skepticism about the peace deal persists, with many regional nations, attacked by Iran during the war, viewing the agreement as too lenient. The deal’s $300-billion fund and sanctions relief are seen as potentially enabling Iran’s military rebuild, and it does not limit Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities. It requires Iran to keep shipping open through the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days, after which Tehran might impose tolls or fees on navigation and security services, which Washington and Gulf allies oppose.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized, “We won’t tolerate anything that jeopardizes regional security,” speaking in Kuwait, where the U.S. embassy resumed operations after delays caused by the conflict.
In Washington, Lebanon and Israel discussed a U.S.-supported proposal to have Israeli forces withdraw from some areas occupied during recent conflicts, returning control to Lebanese authorities. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected any plans for troop withdrawals.
Israel continues its military operations in Lebanon, fighting Hezbollah, which launched attacks supporting Iran earlier this year. Tehran has demanded a halt to hostilities as part of any peace accord with the U.S. Meanwhile, an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon killed two individuals, while Israel claimed it targeted two Hezbollah fighters; it’s unclear if these incidents were connected.