On Thursday, July 24, 2026, U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), a former combat veteran, choked up during a Senate floor speech as he pointed to a bracelet honoring a fallen friend who was "cut in half" by an Iranian bomb. Sheehy used the moment to oppose the Democratic-led Iran War Powers Resolution, which sought to require explicit congressional authorization for continued U.S. military involvement against Iran.

Sheehy argued that while Democrats correctly labeled the conflict a "war of choice," that choice was made decades ago by Iran’s regime, not by former President Donald Trump. He recounted a history of Iranian-backed attacks on Americans, including the 1983 Marine barracks bombing, the USS Cole attack, the Achille Lauro hijacking, and actions by groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.

The Montana Republican emphasized that the regime in Iran does not consider U.S. partisan politics, stating, "And forever wars are not popular with anybody these days. Both sides of [the aisle] love to attack our forever wars. And I can promise you, being someone overseas wearing the uniform, when you’re fighting for your country, you don’t care what party’s in office."

Despite the resolution's intent to rein in President Trump's war powers, the Senate rejected advancing the measure in a close 47-49 vote. Sheehy concluded with a vow: "We didn’t start this war, we did not. But, we will finish it."

The speech underscored the ongoing debate over U.S. military engagement with Iran amid rising costs and casualties.

Tim Sheehy at Senate Votes
Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., seen during Senate votes at the U.S. Capitol on June 17, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

IRGC Member in Tehran
An armed member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) monitors mourners at the funeral for late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran on July 6, 2026. (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)