Senate rejects war-powers rebuke as Saudi-led maritime alliance forms amid expanding Iran-US conflict

The U.S. Senate failed to pass a resolution on Thursday that would have rebuked President Donald Trump for his handling of the war with Iran, losing 49-50. Republican senators Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and Rand Paul joined Democrats in limiting the president’s war-powers, while Democrat John Fetterman voted with Republicans to reject the measure. The vote marks the 13th Senate consideration of an Iran war-powers resolution this year.

Separately, Saudi Arabia announced that fourteen countries – including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti and Somalia – have backed a proposal for a multinational “Maritime Defense Alliance” to protect international shipping routes. The alliance will be led by Saudi Arabia, which will host its headquarters, and aims to enhance maritime security and preserve freedom of navigation.

China’s foreign ministry dismissed reports that Beijing would supply Iran with 300-400 shoulder-fired air-defence missile launchers, calling the claims “false and unfounded.” Chinese officials said the country’s role is to promote peace and end the conflict.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed as long as U.S. “threats” and “interference” continue, after the United States said it had struck dozens of IRGC targets in Iran. The IRGC also warned European countries against allowing U.S. bases to be used for attacks on Tehran.

A drone strike hit a floating LNG storage facility at Egypt’s Damietta port, causing a fire but no casualties. Egyptian officials said the incident occurred during cargo operations at a liquefied natural gas terminal and that port activities continued without interruption.

U.S. strikes on Iran resulted in civilian casualties on Qeshm Island, including the death of a couple and their two-year-old child, according to Iranian state media. The U.S. said the attacks were in response to attempted missile attacks on its forces in the region.

The conflict has also driven up global oil prices, with Brent crude rising nearly a third since February and Shell reporting quarterly profits of $9.8 billion, its second-highest ever, as a result of the market surge.