House votes for a third time to end the Iran war as conflict drags on

For the third time, the U.S. House has voted to end the war in Iran, approving a war powers resolution that would prevent President Donald Trump from continuing military action without congressional approval. The resolution, approved with a vote of 220-204, follows earlier efforts this summer and aligns with calls for the Constitution to compel tough questions from lawmakers instead of submission to an aggressive administration.

Republican Rep. Brian Mast, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, emphasized Iran's ongoing threat to the United States. The conflict, initiated by Trump on February 28, has persisted despite intermittent strikes, causing instability in the region for nearly seven months. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the war has cost over $38 billion since August 1 and is projected to continue costing between $2 billion and $3 billion monthly.

Despite Trump's promise not to engage in foreign wars, his actions are influencing Republican sentiment. Most Americans believe the war in Iran is not justified, according to an AP-NORC poll. Congress has repeatedly attempted to alter the war's direction, with the Senate approving a similar resolution, but it was swiftly reversed by GOP senators upon Trump's objections.

Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledged the need to lower gas prices, attributing potential improvements to regional stabilization as allies take action. However, Trump remains wary of a post-election shift, hoping the conflict will end soon enough to benefit the November elections.