The GOP shows its divisions over Iran: The Senate blocks an attempt to withdraw the US from war with Iran, but four republicans support the resolution

On Thursday, the Senate rejected a measure that would have forced President Donald Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from the war with Iran, defeating the resolution 49–50, with several Republicans joining Democrats in supporting the measure. These included Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, Maine Senator Susan Collins, and North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis. Tillis's case was the most notable, as it marked the first time he had supported the resolution.

On the reasons behind his decision, Tillis told The Hill in an interview that the war has continued without congressional authorization and warned that its economic consequences could create political difficulties for Republicans, especially with rising prices for gasoline, diesel, and fertilizer. "We're reaching a point where we simply need answers. We need to know what success looks like," Tillis said, who also noted that "there has been a 'steady decline in public support' since the first attacks on Iran in February."

The extremely close vote highlights the decline in Republican support for the war with Iran, a trend that has been evident in various ways. Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy cast the decisive vote against the resolution after expressing doubts about his position earlier on Thursday. According to The Hill, Cassidy met with Senate Majority Leader John Thune in the Mansfield Room near the Senate floor before ultimately voting against the measure. He was also seen talking at length with Senate Republican Majority Leader John Barrasso shortly before the vote.

The armed conflict, far from showing any signs of a possible end in the short term, has been ongoing for just over seven months since it began. While the Trump administration has been asserting that the Iranian regime is under enough pressure to expect certain actions that could end the war once and for all, the truth is that numerous analysts have noted that Tehran has not yet shown any real signs of being willing to take these steps, so the conflict could drag on even longer than expected.