Iran live updates: House GOP leaders pull Iran war powers vote over attendance issues, sources say

Trump on Tuesday dismissed concerns about the economic impact of the conflict.

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Last updated: Friday, May 22, 2026 1:28PM GMT
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President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.

Following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire, initial U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan in April failed to reach a peace deal.

Trump later announced the open-ended extension of the ceasefire and the continuation of a U.S. blockade until negotiations are concluded "one way or the other."

ByLauren Peller ABCNews logo
1:25 PM GMT

House GOP leaders pull Iran war powers vote over attendance issues: Sources

House Republicans pulled a vote on an Iran war powers resolution that members were slated to vote on during Thursday evening's vote series -- prompting outrage from Democrats.

The vote was scrapped at the last minute due to attendance issues on the GOP side, according to sources familiar with the matter.

House Rules Committee Ranking Member Rep. Jim McGovern, a Democrat, asked for an explanation as to why the vote was canceled ahead of recess.

"Are we not voting on it because the American people are sick and tired of this illegal war that is costing tens of billions of dollars?" McGovern said on the House floor, as Democrats shouted and yelled in the chamber.

"Gas prices are through the roof. People can't afford their groceries. Is that why you're pulling it?" he said.

All previous war powers efforts in the House have failed, though last week a resolution failed in a close tied vote.

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May 20, 2026, 9:31 PM GMT

Trump tells U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduates the military may have to 'finish' operations in Iran

President Donald Trump told U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduates that it will soon be clear if the U.S. will sign a deal with Iran or if the military has to go in and finish the job or whether Iran signs a deal.

"We're respected all over the world. You saw that with China just recently. You saw that in Venezuela. You saw that right now in Iran, everything's gone. Their Navy is gone. Their Air Force is gone. Just about everything. The only question is, do we go and finish it up, or are they going to be signing a document? Let's see what happens," Trump said during his commencement speech.

President Donald Trump gestures while on stage for the commencement address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., Wednesday, May 20, 2026.
President Donald Trump gestures while on stage for the commencement address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., Wednesday, May 20, 2026.

Highlighting the Coast Guard's role in military operations in Iran, Trump touted their actions. Trump told the group that he suspects "more" fighting will come in Iran if the regime doesn't "get smart," and negotiate a peace deal.

"Just two months ago, off the Coast Guard, Malaysia, a highly trained US Coast Guard tactical team helped seize a sanctioned Iranian oil tanker that had been used to transport over a million barrels of oil from Kharg Island into the coffers of Iran," Trump said.

"This is the third sanctioned Iranian vessel the Coast Guard has helped capture since we began the fighting, the real fighting with Iran, and many more to come. I suspect, unless they get smart," he said.

ByIsabella Murray and Michelle Stoddart ABCNews logo
May 20, 2026, 9:14 PM GMT

Trump says economic concerns are 'peanuts' compared to Iran nuclear threat

President Donald Trump once again downplayed the war's economic impact on Americans on Tuesday, saying that the financial setbacks are "peanuts" compared to the chance of Iran having a nuclear weapon.

"Everything's going good. I'm sorry, but we have to go down and take a little journey down to --we have to do something with Iran," Trump said in response to a question about high gas prices during an event showing the construction of the White House ballroom. "We cannot let them have a nuclear weapon. You want to see the world exploded? You want to see a problem? And this is peanuts."

President Donald Trump tours Ballroom construction around the outside the White House, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Washington.
President Donald Trump tours Ballroom construction around the outside the White House, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Washington.

The president, who has brushed off concerns about high prices, said "I appreciate everybody putting up with it for a little while. It won't be much longer."

He said that Americans "fully understand" his decision to carry out the war in Iran, adding that an abundance of oil is coming to the U.S. to quell concerns.

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May 20, 2026, 2:52 PM GMT

Trump says he's in 'no hurry' to make a peace deal with Iran

President Donald Trump said he was in "no hurry" to finalize a peace deal with Iran, 12 weeks into the war, while speaking with reporters on Wednesday.

Trump suggested he would not consider making a "limited deal" with Iran that is just focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

"We're going to give this one shot," Trump said about a peace deal, ruling out the idea of a partial compromise.

"I'm in no hurry. You never think, 'Oh, the midterms, I'm in a hurry.' I'm in no hurry," he said.

Trump was also asked if he thought it was taking longer than he expected it would to make a deal with Iran and he responded by comparing this war to other wars.

"You were in Vietnam 19 years. You were in Afghanistan, and these other places, 10 years. You were in Iraq. How long were you in Iraq? 12 years. You were in Korea for seven years. World War II is different -- that was four years. I'm in for three months, and much of it's been (a) ceasefire," Trump said.