US Senate Democratic Leader: War on Iran Was an Epic Failure; Trump's 'War Powers' Should Be Restricted

The Middle East situation has reached a stalemate, with the US and Iran nearing a framework agreement to end the conflict, though disagreements remain. Iran stated it is impossible to "fully accept" the American proposal. Previously, US Senate Democrats publicly criticized the Trump administration's military action against Iran, calling it an "epic failure". Amidst glimmers of hope, the deadlock persists, and the direction of the situation remains highly uncertain. According to CCTV International News, on April 14, US Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer stated in Congress that the Trump administration's military action against Iran, dubbed "epic wrath," was an "epic failure." He stated that he would force weekly votes to limit President Trump's "war powers." According to Xinhua News Agency reports, on the 14th, during an interview with ABC News, Trump said the war with Iran was "close to ending," that Iran was "desperate" to reach an agreement, and hinted that both sides might return to the negotiating table in Pakistan within the next two days. When asked whether the conflict would end through an agreement or by "destroying Iran's capabilities," he stated: "Both outcomes are possible, but I believe reaching an agreement is preferable." While Schumer's legislative actions are not yet sufficient to directly change the course of military operations, the continuous pressure of voting will increase the political costs for the Trump administration regarding war decisions and may potentially disrupt market sentiment. Condemning Congressional Inaction, Schumer Proposes Forced Advancement of War Powers Bill According to Xinhua News Agency and CCTV International News, Schumer criticized Congress for ignoring the severe impact of this action on the US and global economies, noting there were "no hearings, no oversight, and no accountability," amounting to inaction. Schumer said that Democrats will submit a bill limiting presidential war powers this week, until this war ends or Congress holds the government accountable. Schumer said: "If Republicans do not take action, Senate Democrats will force this issue forward. Starting this week, we will bring a war powers resolution to a vote. If Republicans block it, we will vote again and again." Framework Agreement Nears but Remains Unresolved Schumer's remarks reflect the political maneuvering in Washington. On the other side, negotiations between the US and Iran continue to drag on, with limited substantive progress. According to Xinhua News, US President Trump stated in an interview broadcast by US media on the 15th that the "final outcome" of the war with Iran could be achieved very soon. According to a report by Xinhua on April 15, citing sources familiar with the matter, the US and Iran have "agreed in principle" to negotiate, but the date and location of the talks have not yet been determined. Regarding Iran, according to Xinhua reports, the Iranian Foreign Ministry stated it is impossible to "fully accept" the American proposal. According to Iranian media reports on the 15th, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said that the US presented a package deal to Iran hoping it would be "fully accepted," and the US clearly knows "this is impossible," which contradicts the logic of negotiation and dialogue. Additionally, according to CCTV News reports, negotiators from the US and Iran made progress in the latest round of talks, gradually approaching a framework agreement to end the conflict. However, several US officials emphasized that given the significant differences remaining, there is no guarantee of a final agreement.