The Senate on Tuesday approved a House-passed resolution directing President Trump to withdraw U.S. troops from hostilities against Iran.

The resolution, which passed the House in a 215-208 vote earlier this month, passed the Senate in a 50-48 vote.

Four Republicans broke ranks and supported the resolution.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) was the lone Democrat to vote against the measure.

The Hill shared further:

The measure came straight to the Senate floor Tuesday for an up-or-down vote on final passage. It does not need Trump’s signature because it is a concurrent resolution.

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The resolution does not have the force of law, even though it’s been approved by both chambers.

It directs Trump under the 1973 War Powers Act to remove U.S. troops from hostilities against Iran, though it excepts elements of the armed forces that would be necessary to protect U.S. assets or allies from imminent attack.

Four Republicans voted for the measure: Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.), Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Bill Cassidy (La.).

The same four GOP senators voted last week to discharge a similar resolution from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, but it failed to advance because of Democratic attendance issues.

Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Dave McCormick (R-PA) were absent and did not vote.

Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID) urged senators to vote against the measure.

“If this passes, the Iranians are going to simply stand up and walk away from negotiations,” Risch said.

“They’re going to say this thing’s over,” he added.

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The vote comes as Congress reels over the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the U.S. and Iran that, for now, has allotted more time for officials to negotiate a longer-lasting peace deal.

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Many Republicans recoiled at the drip-feed of information coming out about the deal, with some comparing it to former President Barack Obama’s own Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker, R-Miss., shredded the MOU in a statement Thursday in which he cautioned that the agreement “negotiates away the victories of Operation Epic Fury in ways that are completely out of step with the president’s goals.”

Wicker took particular issue with the proposed $300 billion reconstruction fund, which he acknowledged wouldn’t be funded by taxpayers, but “would make Iran’s payoff under President Obama’s 2015 deal look like a pittance by comparison.”

Other Republicans aren’t thrilled with sanctions on Iranian oil being lifted, even temporarily, after years of keeping their oil business in a vice grip.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said he wanted to “tie lifting sanctions or financial incentives to conditions on Iranian behavior,” and acknowledged that reopening the Strait of Hormuz was a component of that.

 

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