WASHINGTON, D.C. — The conflict with Iran hit a new milestone over the weekend as the fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran continues to be put to the test.
Sunday marked the 100th day since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. After months of uncertainty surrounding the war and its trajectory, new missile launches, retaliatory strikes and peace demands are raising fears that the conflict could drag on even longer.
Iranian state television shared new video of missiles launched toward Israel Sunday — the first such attack since April. Israeli defense systems intercepted most of the projectiles, and officials say no injuries were reported.
The launch came hours after Israeli strikes hit targets in Beirut, Lebanon tied to the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. Tehran is now warning additional attacks could follow if Israel continues military operations there.
President Trump reportedly urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refrain from further retaliation, warning that it could jeopardize a broader peace deal. But on Monday, Israel targeted air defenses and a petrochemical complex in Iran.
Netanyahu later said the attacks on Iran have halted, but stopped short of acknowledging a ceasefire.
Here at home, the race is on to keep diplomacy alive. The Trump administration and Iran are reportedly working toward a “memorandum of understanding” to revive peace negotiations.
Iran is pushing for frozen assets to be released, while the White House says any agreement must include Iran abandoning all nuclear weapons ambitions.
Meanwhile, Congress returns to Washington days after the House passed a resolution to limit President Trump’s military actions against Iran.
“This is a very dangerous prospect to take away from the administration and the commander in chief right now,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Wednesday. “It weakens us, our position and our leverage in negotiation on the peace in that situation.”
For the first time since the conflict began, the Republican-controlled House voted Wednesday, 215-208, to approve the measure that could eventually limit the president. Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., Tom Barrett, R-Mich., Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., voted with Democrats to pass the measure.
“We have to follow the law. There’s a law on the books, the War Powers Act of ’73, says 48-hour notification and 60-day concurrence of Congress. We’re past the 60 days,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick. “So you have two choices — you either follow the law or you change the law. You can’t violate the law. That’s not an option.”
Democrats have consistently forced war powers votes in recent months. Wednesday was the first time the effort was successful in the House. It could signal growing unrest among Republicans, especially those in swing districts staring down tough midterm races in just a few months.
“I think that people are frustrated, certainly, but that’s not the only consideration in this. There are a variety of considerations that we have to take into account,” said Rep. Barrett. “I share the interest in making sure that Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon. But we have to do this in a way that is done through the use of force authorization, that Congress has the exclusive authority over. Congress alone declares war. That’s something that we have to be, you know, certainly protective of.”
