Pressure mounts on US to end Iran conflict

WASHINGTON — The US House voted for a third time Tuesday to end US military involvement in the Iran conflict amid growing scrutiny over its financial and military costs and renewed impeachment efforts in Congress.

The House approved a war powers resolution by 220-204, with all Democrats and seven Republicans voting in favor. The measure would limit US President Donald Trump's ability to continue military action without congressional approval.

Similar resolutions passed by the House in June and July have not taken effect, and Trump would likely veto the latest measure if it reached his desk.

The latest vote came as the Congressional Budget Office, or CBO, said the conflict had cost the Department of Defense approximately $38 billion as of Aug 1.

The CBO said monthly costs could range from $2 billion to $3 billion, or more, depending on the intensity of the fighting if the conflict continued.

Replacing munitions used through Aug 1 was estimated at $21.7 billion, making it the largest single component of the Defense Department's costs.

The CBO also highlighted the depletion of missile defense interceptors as a major opportunity cost for the Pentagon.

Comparing reported expenditures with the total number purchased, the agency estimated that the United States had probably used between one-half and two-thirds of its inventory of those munitions since June 2025, potentially leaving the country with reduced stocks for several years.

Beyond direct military spending, the conflict has also raised energy prices and added inflationary pressure, the CBO said. It estimated that inflation in the first quarter of 2027 would be 0.5 percentage points higher than projected in February, while core inflation would be 0.3 percentage points higher.

Renewed debate

Renewed debate in Congress has also focused on the administration's handling of the conflict. Republican Representative Thomas Massie on Tuesday introduced articles of impeachment against US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of violating the War Powers Resolution and congressional directives over the Iran conflict, among other allegations. The filing marked the second impeachment effort against Hegseth.

The Pentagon defended Hegseth, saying the department remained "unified behind the Secretary's vision" and would continue working "to put our warfighters and America first", according to a statement from Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson.

The House debate also reflected differing views over the US military presence in the region. Democrats supporting the resolution argued that Congress should exercise its constitutional role over sustained military action, while Republican Representative Brian Mast questioned what military resources would be removed from the region and said Iran remained a threat to the US.

With lawmakers set to leave Washington later this week for the fall recess ahead of the November midterm elections, Tuesday's vote may be the last House action on the conflict before the election.

XINHUA-AGENCIES