Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R.S., arrives at the Capitol in Washington for a meeting with President Donald Trump on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
J. Scott Applewhite | AP
Senate Minority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Tuesday that he expects Congress to likely vote on a broader Iran deal emerging from the Trump administration’s 60-day negotiation period, but it remains to be seen what form that vote will take.
“If there is some kind of deal, at some point there will be some sort of vote in Congress,” Thun told reporters. “Whether it’s a resolution of disapproval or something, I don’t know the answer to that,” he added.
Asked what role Congress should play in approving what comes out of the negotiations, Thune said many senators “want to hear more” from officials still involved in the negotiations.
The comments, which came just before the Senate voted 50-48 to adopt the House-approved Iran War Powers Resolution directing an end to U.S. hostilities, were a bipartisan rebuke that underscored Congress’ growing misgivings about President Trump’s Iran policy.
Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy (Louisiana), Susan Collins (Maine), Rand Paul (Kentucky), and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) joined most Democrats in voting in favor of the resolution. Sen. John Fetterman, Democrat of Pennsylvania, joined most Republicans in opposing it.
The vote marked a significant escalation in Congress’ efforts to reaffirm its role in both the military and diplomatic trajectory of President Trump’s Iran policy. Lawmakers from both parties have called for limits on further U.S. military action against Iran, while demanding more information about the administration’s memorandum of understanding with the Iranian government.
Republican pressure on the White House is increasing to involve Congress and potentially send the final Iran deal to the Legislature for review.
Several Republican senators have praised President Trump’s efforts to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but they have also expressed concerns about possible sanctions relief, a freeze on Iranian assets, a proposed reconstruction fund, and whether Tehran would accept enforceable limits on its nuclear program.
Thune told reporters last week that nuclear elements of the nuclear deal could trigger reporting requirements to Congress.
The United States and Iran met in Switzerland over the weekend, along with representatives from Pakistan and Qatar, to discuss terms for a final deal and an end to the fighting in Lebanon involving Israel.
