On Thursday, July 24, 2026, U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) delivered an emotional speech on the Senate floor opposing the Iran War Powers Resolution. Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL and combat veteran, choked up as he pointed to a bracelet honoring a fallen friend who was "cut in half" by an Iranian bomb.

The resolution sought to require congressional authorization for continued U.S. military involvement against Iran, effectively forcing the removal of U.S. forces unless explicitly approved by Congress. The Senate rejected the effort to advance the measure in a close 47-49 vote.

Sheehy argued that while Democrats labeled the conflict a "war of choice," the decision was made decades ago by Iran’s regime, not by former President Donald Trump. He recounted decades 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.

He emphasized the bipartisan unpopularity of "forever wars," stating, "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." Sheehy concluded with a vow: "We didn’t start this war, we did not. But, we will finish it."

The speech highlighted the ongoing tensions with Iran and the complexities surrounding U.S. military engagement in the region. An image from Getty Images showed an armed member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps monitoring mourners at the funeral of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran on July 6, 2026.

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