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House Votes Down Iran War Powers Measure, Soon On Heels Of Similar Senate Res. Defeat

Update(1714ET): So essentially Congress is not even going to have a robust War Powers debate as war in Iran and the Gulf keeps escalating:

The House on Thursday rejected an effort to advance legislation that would restrict President Trump from using further military action in Iran.

The failed vote amounts to an endorsement of Trump’s military campaign in Iran from Congress, which has the constitutional authority to declare war.

The 212-219 vote [largely on partisan lines] comes one day after the Senate rejected a similar measure, mainly along party lines.

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It’s been wild ride in crude over the past few days with Brent crude futures were capped near $84 a barrel on Tuesday afternoon before sliding down to the $81 level late Wednesday afternoon, only to surge back up to $84 this morning…

…as shipping industry insiders and Wall Street analysts await exact details on the Trump administration’s proposal to keep tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The critical maritime chokepoint remains paralyzed, raising the risk of an energy shock in parts of the world that rely heavily on those flows, particularly in Asia.

President Trump wrote in a Truth Social post that the U.S. will provide insurance for “ALL Maritime Trade” through the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and will provide Navy escorts “if necessary.”

The shutdown is already hitting global energy flows:

QatarEnergy Declares Force Majeure As One-Fifth Of Global LNG Supply Goes Dark

Oil Spikes To Session High As Iraq Starts Shutting Output At Massive Oil Field

Now comes the hard part, with the shipping industry and Wall Street analysts all asking the same question: how will every tanker transiting the Arabian Sea through the Gulf of Oman, into the Strait, and onward to the Persian Gulf be protected by U.S. or allied air or naval forces? 

“Nothing is sure and we need immediate clarity,” said Khalid Hashim, managing director of Precious Shipping Pcl, a Thai firm that owns bulk carriers.

Hashim said, “Lives are at risk, cargoes are at risk, ships are at risk. We need immediate cover that protects us from all this.”

While some shipowners say they’re mulling over joining escorted convoys, many remain very cautious, noting that escorts do not eliminate the risk of the IRGC’s asymmetric warfare, such as the use of drones. 

Analysts also question whether the Trump administration has done enough planning to make the proposal bulletproof in the near term. Overall, the market sees Trump’s plan as a temporary fix to restart flows in the Strait, with Brent crude futures capped at $84 since the announcement and currently trading around $81. 

UBS analyst Benjamin Benson, “Improved risk sentiment following US President Trump’s announcement on maritime insurance and US Navy security support further aided the recovery in prices.” 

Current activity in the Strait of Hormuz:

Tanker traffic through Strait of Hormuz down by 90%
Analysis of vessel activity indicates tanker transits are now around 90% lower than last week. Matt Wright, Principal Freight Analyst at Kpler, explains: “Unlike several other vessel segments where movements have largely… pic.twitter.com/JIhFoAkQKO
— MarineTraffic (@MarineTraffic) March 4, 2026
“The core thing shipowners are thinking about is the real risk of loss,” said Karnan Thirupathy, partner at Kennedys Law LLP, who specializes in commodities and shipping. “No one goes into the trade if the risk of loss is simply too high.”

RBC Capital Markets LLC analysts noted, “President Trump’s comments about insurance and tanker escorts caused a pullback in oil prices, we question how much planning has been done on the insurance backstop thus far and think there could be a number of challenges in executing this plan quickly.” 

Wall Street Journal noted by late afternoon that the Trump administration was in talks with one major insurance broker about how to get ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz: 

A team from insurance broker Marsh Risk met with administration officials Tuesday and offered to help the U.S. government create an insurance mechanism that could lower shipping risk and make insuring ships more affordable, said Marcus Baker, the firm’s global head of marine, cargo and logistics. Energy prices have soared since Iran warned it could start attacking ships in the strategic waterway, slowing oil shipping to a standstill.

“Providing protection for all tankers operating in areas currently threatened by Iran is unrealistic as this would require a very high number of warships and other military assets,” Bimco security analyst Jakob Larsen noted. 

Let’s remind readers that the U.S. and its allies had a difficult time securing the Bab el-Mandeb chokepoint, where Houthi rebels repeatedly launched missiles and drones at commercial ships linked to the U.S. and Israel. That certaintly matters now. It also comes as the U.S. and its allies are burning through significant volumes of air-delivered munitions in Operation Epic Fury.

Tyler Durden
Thu, 03/05/2026 – 17:13

The journalist has not returned to the “Today” show since her mother was reported missing from her Tucson home on Feb. 1.

The journalist has not returned to the “Today” show since her mother was reported missing from her Tucson home on Feb. 1.

The Iranian women’s soccer team appeared to pivot from its silent stance at the Women’s Asian Cup on Thursday, singing and saluting during their national anthem before its match against Australia. Meanwhile, Iranian fans voiced support for President Donald Trump in the stands amid the ongoing joint military campaign against Iran. Before the start of the match against Australia, the women’s team notably participated in the performance of the anthem. The women were seen saluting as rain added to the somber moment. It was in stark contrast to the opening match against South Korea, when the women’s squad stood silent as Iran head coach Marziyeh Jafari, also silent, smiled at her team. The silence was interpreted by some as an act of resistance amid the ongoing joint military strikes by the U.S. and Israel against Iran. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMBut, according to reports, the squad was “instructed” to participate in their next match. The team has remained silent on the subject since before the start of the tournament. The Women’s Asian Cup did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The night before Iran’s 4-0 loss to Australia, Iran striker Sara Didar choked back tears as she shared the concerns of players and management for their families and loved ones amid the war.”Obviously we’re all concerned and we’re sad at what has happened to Iran and our families in Iran,” Didar said in comments translated into English during a news conference. “I really hope for our country to have good news ahead. And I hope that my country will be strongly alive.”IRANIAN WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM REFUSE TO SING NATIONAL ANTHEM IN SILENT PROTEST AT ASIAN CUPJafari and other players declined to answer questions on the war at their opening press conference on Sunday. On Wednesday, moderators asked reporters to stick to soccer-related questions. Meanwhile, supporters of Iran voiced their support for Trump and a free Iran during Thursday’s match. Pre-Islamic Revolution flags were seen being waved in the crowd, while others held up signs with letters spelling Trump’s name.In his first video remarks posted to Truth Social, Trump encouraged the Iranian people to take over their government once the United States and Israel finished “major combat operations” in Iran.”The hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside,” he said, addressing the Iranian people. “This will be, probably, your only chance for generations. For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it. No President was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a President who is giving you what you want.”The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck, a guest host on “The View” this week, confronted co-host Sunny Hostin on Thursday over former President Barack Obama launching airstrikes against Libya in 2011 as the liberal co-host has repeatedly called President Donald Trump’s actions in Iran “illegal.” “So did you believe it was illegal in April of 2011, when the Office of Legal Counsel memo stated from President Obama that the president has constitutional authority to direct the use of military force in Libya because you could reasonably determine that such use of force was in the national interest?” Hasselbeck pressed. “Prior congressional approval was not constitutionally required to use military force in these operations,” she said. “Where were you then complaining?””I was at home complaining,” Hostin quipped, noting she was not a co-host of the liberal talk show at the time. “But I wasn’t complaining because the Office of Legal Counsel was involved.” She continued: “This president [Trump] does not go through the Office of Legal Counsel. This president does not go to Congress. Congress has the power to enact — to approve wars. This Congress has the power of the purse. This president is acting more like a king than anything else. He is the commander in chief, but he is not a king.”PELOSI’S WAR POWERS FLIP-FLOP EXPOSED IN RESURFACED OBAMA-ERA CLIP CONTRADICTS TRUMP CRITICISM ON IRANHostin has called the Trump administration’s actions against Iran illegal and unconstitutional, as many Democrats have argued, since the president announced the strikes.Trump’s strikes bear similarities to Obama’s decision to strike Libya in 2011 under Operation Odyssey Dawn. In that operation, Obama ordered a series of strikes against Libya, looking to deter Muammar Gaddafi from attacking civilians and anti-government opposition forces. The Office of Legal Counsel issued its statement after Obama decided to carry out the strikes.Hostin said the Iran strikes should have gone through Congress, saying it would have given embassies more notice to evacuate American citizens from the Middle East.”I don’t think that this was done appropriately. I maintain that this is illegal and unconstitutional,” she added.A White House official pointed to the president’s Article II authority as commander in chief, and said Trump’s actions were directed at Iran’s military infrastructure. The official maintained that the Iranian regime has consistently pursued building missiles and acquiring nuclear weapons and that its capabilities directly threatened the U.S. and partners in the Middle East.THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO CONGRESS’ OPTIONS ON HAMSTRINGING TRUMP’S WAR POWERS IN IRANHasselbeck then asked Hostin if she liked the result of the strikes, which eliminated Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — and several other top Iranian officials — who ruled the Islamic Republic for more than three decades and oversaw an era of harsh internal repression and confrontation with the U.S. and Israel.”No, I don’t,” Hostin responded. Co-host Whoopi Goldberg went to a commercial and when the show resumed, co-host Sara Haines also pushed back on Hostin’s argument.”In regard to what Sunny’s saying about it being an illegal war, every modern president since Reagan has done this in attacks — from Syria, Libya, Bosnia, Panama. So it happens continually, to give it context,” Haines said. “Congress has ceded this power a long time ago. And I have a lot of criticisms of Congress and this is one of them. If you want to be part of the conversation, don’t hand your power over to the presidents, which they have done.”Hostin went on to quote Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who has said she believes this is an illegal war because “there was no imminent threat and the war was started under pretext.”Fox News’ Leo Briceno contributed to this report.