Trump slams US Senate for 'poorly timed' Iran war powers vote, calling it 'meaningless'

US President Donald Trump slammed the US Senate for voting on legislation which directs Trump to halt military action against Iran.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that he has "Iran on the 'ropes', ready to go down for the fall, willing to give us practically anything,' in reference to the recent Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding that was signed.

He went on to say the War Powers Act Vote was "poorly timed and meaningless" and told the "Number One Sponser of Terror in the World" that the US didn't "like what I was doing to them."

"...by doing so, [the vote] has provided aid and comfort the Enemy."

The Islamabad MoU, signed last week, was hailed by Trump's supporters as a historic "grand bargain', however, critics say the accord legitimises and strengthens Iran.

Oman opens temporary maritime corridor through Strait of Hormuz

Oman announced on Tuesday the opening of a temporary maritime corridor for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, citing its responsibility toward one of the world's most important shipping routes and its commitment to freedom of navigation.

The measure was introduced in coordination with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and in line with outcomes of recent US-Iran efforts related to navigation and regional stability, according to a report by the Oman News Agency.

"Based on the Sultanate of Oman's responsibility toward the Strait of Hormuz and its importance to the global economy, and in accordance with its firm commitment to international law and the law of the sea, ensuring freedom of navigation in the strait without imposing transit fees, Oman has worked in coordination with the International Maritime Organization to provide the option of using a temporary maritime corridor for all vessels," the report said.

The corridor will be available according to coordinates announced by the IMO and the relevant Omani authorities, with vessels wishing to use the route required to coordinate with the international maritime body.

The report comes as Oman and Iran continue consultations on future navigation arrangements in the strategic waterway.

Earlier Tuesday, Muscat and Tehran announced the formation of "a joint working group" tasked with negotiating the future management of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, maritime services to be provided there and related costs, in coordination with other Gulf littoral states and in accordance with international law and the sovereign rights of states bordering the waterway.

Under clause 5 of the Islamabad Understanding, Iran will hold dialogue with Oman on the future administration of the Strait of Hormuz and the maritime services to be provided there, in coordination with other Gulf littoral states and in accordance with international law and the sovereign rights of the states bordering the strategic waterway.

According to the memorandum, Iran also committed to making its utmost efforts to ensure the safe and toll-free passage of commercial vessels between the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman for a period of 60 days, with commercial shipping resuming immediately.

‘This is going to happen’: IAEA says Iran nuclear inspections will take place

IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi has said the agency’s inspectors will eventually inspect Iran’s nuclear enrichment sites, according to Al Jazeera.

“Whether this happens the day after tomorrow or in one week or in 10 days, it’s important, but not essential,” Grossi told journalists in Tokyo. “This is going to happen.”

As we’ve reported, US and Iranian officials have given different accounts of Tehran’s commitment to nuclear oversight. US Vice President JD Vance has claimed Iran agreed to invite IAEA inspectors back into the country, but Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has said Iran has not met with Grossi and has no clear schedule for any inspections.

US Senate joins House in voting to halt Iran war, rebuking Trump

The US Senate backed legislation on Tuesday directing Trump to halt US military action against Iran, the latest rebuke of ​the Republican president from an increasingly restive Congress.

The Senate voted 50-48 in favour of the war powers resolution, which passed the House of Representatives early this month, reflecting growing concern even ‌among some of Trump's Republicans about the unpopular conflict that began on February 28 when the US and Israel launched an attack on Iran.

It was the first time both chambers of Congress had passed a resolution directing a president to remove US armed forces from hostilities since the War Powers Resolution, more commonly known as the War Powers Act, was enacted in 1973.

While likely to remain largely symbolic, the vote was a setback for Trump, who until recently had enjoyed near-unanimous support from Republican members ​of Congress.

It also comes as the administration is expected to ask Congress to authorise tens of billions of dollars to pay for the war.

Trump's Republicans hold slim majorities in both the Senate and ​House, but a few have broken with the president on a handful of issues ahead of mid-term elections in November, which will determine whether the party will ⁠retain control of Congress.

Read: Iran rules out compromise on missile capability

Some Republicans recently baulked at Trump's $1.8 billion "anti-weaponisation" fund to compensate political allies he says have been targeted by federal authorities and stalled a $70 billion bill to fund his immigration crackdown.

Reuters/Ipsos poll results released ​on Tuesday showed that just one in four Americans believe the war against Iran was worth its costs, and a majority worry that a truce with Tehran is unlikely to last.

The Senate vote was largely along ​party lines, with four Republicans joining all but one Democrat in favour. Two Republican senators did not vote.

Constitutional uncertainty

Trump's administration is working to negotiate a peace agreement with Iran. Support for the resolution in Congress is likely to put pressure on the president not to resume hostilities, something he has suggested he might ​do if negotiations falter.

Under the 1973 War Powers Act, the concurrent resolution - passed by both the House and Senate - does not go to the White House for Trump's signature. In the 1973 law, Congress intended ​such resolutions as a mechanism for ending military operations.

But legal experts said the issue remains unsettled. No war powers resolution had previously passed both chambers of Congress and a 1983 Supreme Court ruling said such a measure must be submitted for ‌a president's ⁠signature or veto to have legal effect.

The White House has insisted that the War Powers Act is unconstitutional and thus not binding.

On Tuesday, a White House official said the Senate vote is insignificant because the resolutions do not go to the president and have no force of law, and the measure passed only because two Republicans were absent.

The official also said the resolution directs Trump to remove US forces from hostilities, which the White House says were terminated with a ceasefire on April 7.

Experts say the constitutionality of the War Powers Act likely will be settled in the courts.

"The executive branch will likely ignore it on constitutional grounds, and ​it’s not clear who might have standing to sue ​to enforce it," said Scott Anderson, a senior ⁠fellow at the Brookings Institution and senior editor of the online legal publication Lawfare.

Representative Gregory Meeks of New York, who sponsored the resolution in the House, said he viewed the resolution as binding and would pursue all legal avenues to ensure that the administration complies.

Democrats also noted that the US Constitution gives Congress, not ​the president, the right to take the country to war. "Congress has to own this responsibility," Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia said in a speech urging ​support for the measure.

Slim but significant support

The resolution had also passed the House with slim Republican support. The tally there was 215-208 with four Republicans and every Democrat voting in favor.

In the Senate, the four Republicans who voted for the measure were Susan Collins of Maine, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voted against it.

Republicans Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and David McCormick of Pennsylvania missed the vote.

Democratic lawmakers have promised ⁠additional votes on ​war powers measures, saying they want to force Republicans to go on the record about the war.

Additionally, Congress has the right ​to review and vote on any peace agreement with Tehran if it affects Iran's nuclear program, under a 2015 law passed as then-President Barack Obama negotiated a nuclear agreement with Iran and other world powers.

Senate Republican Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota said ​on Tuesday he expected Congress would review and vote on an eventual Iran peace deal.