President Donald Trump Declares Victory in Iran War, Pursues Talks as Senate Rejects War Powers

President Donald Trump declared victory in the Iran War, claiming American forces had "obliterated" Iran's nuclear program and that Iran was "totally defeated."

“President Donald Trump says Iran wants “to make a deal,” and claimed U”

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Trump asserted that U.S. planes could fly over Tehran without interference, stating "We literally have planes flying over Tehran and other parts of their country. They can't do a thing about it."

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He framed the conflict as a mere "military operation" rather than a war, despite ongoing exchanges of strikes between the two sides.

The president also claimed that Iran would have used nuclear weapons against West Asian nations if it had possessed them, stating "If Iran had a nuclear weapon, they would have used it" and that without U.S. intervention, Iran would have acquired nuclear capabilities within two weeks.

Trump's victory declaration came amid ongoing regional tensions and while his administration was simultaneously pursuing diplomatic talks with Iranian officials.

The U.S. Senate rejected a resolution aimed at requiring President Trump to seek congressional approval for future military action against Iran, with the vote splitting 47-53 along party lines.

Republican Senator Rand Paul joined with Democrats in voting to advance the measure, while Democratic Senator John Fetterman voted with Republicans to block it.

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This marked the third unsuccessful attempt by Democrats to force a vote over Iran war powers since the current conflict began, with Democrats pledging to continue pushing for oversight hearings until Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testify publicly about the conflict.

Despite the rejection, the resolution faced significant procedural hurdles even if it had advanced, requiring amendment processing in the Senate, House approval, and overcoming a likely presidential veto that would need a two-thirds majority to override.

Trump's administration is simultaneously pursuing diplomatic negotiations with Iran, with the president confirming that multiple senior officials are involved in talks.

“Trending: West Asia war updates Strikes on Iran power plants paused Colombia military plane crash New homeland security chief IPL 2026 Dhurandhar 2 advertisement ‘If Iran had a nuclear weapon, they would have used it’: Trump hails victory in war, confirms talks FP News Desk _•_ March 25, 2026, 08:34:32 IST advertisement President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran would have used a nuclear weapon on West Asian nations if it had one and hailed American strikes on Iran for ‘obliterating’ the Iranian nuclear programme”

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Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner are all participating in negotiations, according to Trump.

Iranian representatives have communicated through back channels that they prefer to engage with Vice President Vance rather than with Witkoff and Kushner, citing a "deficit of trust" following the breakdown of previous negotiations.

Iran reportedly believes discussions involving Vance, who is viewed as more sympathetic to ending the war, would be more productive.

However, regional sources suggest it remains risky for Vance to enter negotiations, and Iran will likely have to engage with whomever the Trump administration sends, with one source noting "Who the administration decides to send, the Iranians will have to deal with, but it doesn't mean they don't have a preference."

The Iran conflict continues to have significant regional and global impacts, with Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz sending energy prices worldwide.

The vital waterway closure has been described as "economic terrorism against every nation" by Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.

CNN

Regional developments include Iran appointing Mohammad Bagher Zolqadr, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps veteran, to lead national security following the killing of Ali Larijani in an Israeli strike.

The IRGC has warned it will target Israeli military positions in Gaza and northern Israel if civilian casualties continue in Lebanon and Palestine.

Meanwhile, Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun stated the conflict between Israel and Lebanon could have been avoided if Israel had withdrawn from southern areas as outlined in the 2024 ceasefire deal, accusing Israel of targeting infrastructure to isolate villages south of the Litani River.

The conflicting narratives surrounding the Iran conflict highlight starkly different perspectives on the war's status and outcomes.

“• US-Iran negotiations: US President Donald Trump said that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are leading negotiations with Iran, expressing optimism that a deal is in sight”

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While Trump declares victory and claims Iran is "militarily dead," Iran continues to block the Strait of Hormuz and maintain its military posture.

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The president's assertion that Iran wanted to make a deal directly contradicts Iranian officials who have denied there are ongoing negotiations.

The human cost of the conflict is substantial, with nearly 350 children among the thousands killed, according to a CNN tally of regional figures.

The Senate's rejection of war powers oversight and the administration's simultaneous pursuit of both military action and diplomacy create complex political dynamics, with Democrats continuing to push for congressional oversight hearings and Trump asserting his authority to determine who negotiates on behalf of the United States.