Trump hails Iran concessions; Senate rejects war powers measure
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Iran is making “very big concessions” as negotiations aimed at ending months of conflict and resolving disputes over Tehran’s nuclear program move forward under a Pakistan-mediated agreement.
Speaking to reporters at the US Capitol, Trump expressed confidence about the ongoing talks and the broader situation with Iran.
“The war is going very well. As you know, we're winning by a lot. Iran is making very big concessions. We'll see what happens — but it has been very, very, very powerful,” he said.
Trump later added that Iran was being “very nice” during negotiations.
“They're agreeing to everything that I want, and they have to, otherwise we just go back and do what we have to do,” he said.
The remarks come after Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian electronically signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding last week. The agreement is intended to pave the way for ending the conflict that began when the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on Feb. 28.
Under the memorandum, Washington and Tehran are engaged in a 60-day negotiating process, with an option to extend talks, to reach a final agreement addressing Iran’s nuclear activities and international sanctions.
Pakistan, which has been mediating between the two sides, said technical-level negotiations are expected to resume next week following a temporary pause.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that Washington expects Tehran to fulfill its commitments under the interim agreement.
“The president has been very clear — they need to keep those commitments. If they do, we'll keep forward. If not, the president will have options at his disposal for what to do about it. Let's hope they keep those commitments,” Rubio said.
Senate rejects resolution seeking to limit Trump’s authority
Meanwhile, the US Senate on Wednesday rejected a resolution that would have required President Trump to withdraw US forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress formally authorized military action.
The measure failed in a 47-50-1 vote after Republican leaders argued that congressional action could undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts with Tehran.
The resolution sought to reaffirm Congress’ constitutional authority to declare war and would have required the administration to halt military involvement in or against Iran absent a declaration of war or specific authorization for the use of force.
Republican Sen. Rand Paul voted “present,” saying he did not want to weaken the administration’s negotiating position.
“Since hostilities seem to be over and the President asked me to give consideration to his negotiating position, I will do so,” Paul wrote on X before the vote. “My vote of present is a way to give the President more space and leverage to negotiate a lasting peace.”
Trump welcomed the outcome on his Truth Social platform, thanking Republican senators who supported his position and saying the vote “puts Iran on notice.”
The vote followed a meeting in which Senate Republicans heard Trump defend his approach toward Iran.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, who had previously supported advancing the measure from committee, ultimately voted against it after receiving what he described as a comprehensive briefing from Vice President JD Vance and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on the status of the conflict and negotiations.
Capitol hill debate continues over war powers
The Senate vote came one day after lawmakers approved a separate War Powers Resolution directing Trump to end hostilities against Iran unless Congress authorizes further military action.
That measure, which had already passed the House of Representatives, represented one of the strongest symbolic congressional challenges to the administration’s military campaign since the conflict began.
The debate reflects ongoing divisions in Congress over the balance of war powers between the legislative and executive branches, even as diplomatic efforts gain momentum under the ceasefire framework established earlier this year.
The conflict had escalated after US and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered retaliatory attacks by Tehran against US assets across the Middle East. A ceasefire brokered by Pakistan took effect on April 8, creating conditions for the current negotiations.
Iran warns on Strait of Hormuz navigation
As diplomacy continues, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a warning regarding maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important shipping routes.
In a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency early Thursday, the IRGC Navy said safe passage through the strait is only possible through routes approved by Iranian authorities and warned vessels against using any newly announced shipping lanes that have not been coordinated with Tehran.
“The only authorized route for passage through the Strait of Hormuz is the route announced by the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the force said.
The IRGC described any alternative routes established without Iran’s knowledge as “unacceptable” and “completely dangerous.”
It also said vessels transiting the waterway must coordinate with IRGC naval forces via international maritime Channel 16, warning that action could be taken against ships that fail to comply.
The statement underscored continuing security sensitivities in the Gulf region despite the ceasefire and ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran aimed at reaching a broader peace agreement.
Source:AA
