U.S. Keeps Bombing Iran After Congress Voted Twice to Stop It

The U.S. military restarted a blockade of Iranian ports and struck dozens of targets over a seven-hour operation beginning the afternoon of August 4, marking the fourth consecutive night of American attacks on Iran; U.S. Central Command said the strikes hit the ports of Bandar Abbas and Bushehr along with the city of Abadan, the port of Mahshahr, and Qeshm and Kish Islands [1]. The renewed campaign came as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed optimism that a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could be reached within days, after President Trump had set an 8 p.m. deadline for Iran to reach an agreement with Oman [2]. Separately, CNN reported on August 4 that the U.S. has burned through nearly 80% of its THAAD interceptor stockpile and roughly half of its Patriot interceptors since the war began, with senior military commanders warning the Pentagon’s munitions supply is now “dangerously low” [3]. The continued strikes come despite Congress passing War Powers Resolutions directing Trump to end hostilities with Iran — the House approved such a measure for a second time on July 23 after the Senate passed its own version in June, marking the first time both chambers have voted to pull U.S. forces from a conflict under the War Powers Act [4].

Why It Sucks:

Trump Administration and Hawkish Conservatives

• Hormuz is worth the pressure campaign. With roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas passing through the strait, supporters argue sustained strikes are the only language that has moved Iran toward a deal with Oman [1, 2].
• Deadlines work, even messy ones. Backers point to Bessent’s optimism about an imminent deal as evidence that Trump’s repeated ultimatums, however chaotic, are producing real diplomatic movement [2].
• Stopping now would waste the gains already made. Hawks argue that halting strikes mid-campaign, just as Iran appears willing to negotiate, would squander months of military pressure [1].

Anti-War Lawmakers in Congress

• The president is defying two war powers votes. Both the House and Senate have now formally directed Trump to end hostilities with Iran under the War Powers Act, and strikes are continuing anyway [4].
• An undeclared war has run for months. Lawmakers who backed the resolutions argue that continued bombing without congressional authorization is precisely the executive overreach the War Powers Act was written to prevent [4].
• Bipartisan rebuke didn’t stop a single bomb. Republicans who crossed the aisle to support the resolutions now watch their votes treated as symbolic, undermining the credibility of Congress’s war powers entirely [4].

Military Commanders and Gulf Allies

• Interceptor stockpiles are nearly empty. Nearly 80% of the THAAD interceptor inventory and about half of Patriot stocks have been used up since the war began, commanders warn [3].
• Replenishment takes years, not weeks. Analysts say rebuilding high-end munitions stockpiles could take years given production lead times, leaving forces exposed if another crisis emerges elsewhere [3].
• Gulf partners are left more vulnerable. Allied nations have raised fresh concerns that depleted U.S. air defense supplies weaken their own ability to repel Iranian retaliation [3].

Sources & Citations:

[1] CBS News: U.S. blockades Iranian ports, launches dozens of strikes as Trump seeks control of Strait of Hormuz
[2] CNN: August 4, 2026 — Iran continues Hormuz talks with Oman, US signals optimism on deal
[3] CNN: Nearly 80% of interceptors for a key missile defense system depleted, sources say
[4] NPR: For a 2nd time, House approves resolution to end the war in Iran in a rebuke to Trump