Iran latest: Senate bill forcing vote on Iran war advances after Republican flips following primary loss

A Republican senator's decision to support a bill that would require President Donald Trump to get congressional support to continue the Iran war proved crucial Tuesday as the Senate voted to advance the measure.

The United States intended to attack Iran sometime Tuesday, but those plans were put on hold on the eve of the expected assault after a last-minute intervention by other Middle Eastern leaders, President Donald Trump explained in a social media post. 

The president’s announcement Monday was the first official indication that the U.S. had planned to resume hostilities. In his post, Trump credited the decision not to launch the attack to requests by leaders of other countries in the region, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

Trump added that "serious negotiations" with Iran were underway and reiterated his demand that the country’s leaders abandon their nuclear weapons program. He went on to warn that the U.S. national defense team has been ordered "to be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment's notice, in the event an acceptable deal is not reached."

A U.S. Sailor observes as an MH-60R Sea Hawk, assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 51, taking off from the flight deck of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) as it patrols the Arabian Sea enforci

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Iranian leaders had previously sent a revised 14-point plan to Pakistan for mediators to present to U.S. officials on Monday. Reports on the proposal did not indicate whether it included concessions on Iran’s nuclear program.

Also on Monday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged the toll taken on his country by the war and urged other high-ranking officials to avoid any tone or voices that create division, but we must also face reality."

Here is the latest: 

Senate advance bill to force vote on Iran war

6:01 p.m. ET: A bill designed to end U.S. involvement in the Iran war advanced Tuesday after a Republican senator, coming fresh off a GOP primary loss, changed his vote.

The measure, which has been pushed by Democrats, would require President Donald Trump to get congressional approval for the war or end the conflict.

Republicans have corralled enough votes to block the resolution multiple times, but Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy’s move to support it provided the crucial vote.
 

42 aircrafts lost or damaged during war

12:22 p.m. ET: A Congressional Research Service listed 42 U.S. aircrafts hae been lost or sustained damage in the war with Iran. 

According to the post, citing the Congressional Research Serice, the number includes four F-15E Strike Eagles, one F-35A, one A-10, seven KC-135 Stratotankers and one E-3 Sentry AWACS and other aircrafts. The largest number of aircrafts were 24 MQ-9 Reapers, which have been destroyed.

Trump: ‘I’m not going to let the world be blown up on my watch'

11:35 a.m. ET: President Trump spoke with reporters this morning about various updates on with the White House ballroom and the conflict with Iran. 

"Whether it's popular or not popular, I have to do it — because I'm not going to let the world be blown up on my watch," Trump told reporters. "It's not going to happen."

85 ships redirected

6:22 a.m. ET: The United States military has turned around a total of 85 vessels at the Strait of Hormuz. 

The U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports is designed to hurt Iran's economy by limiting their oil exports, forcing Tehran to a deal to end the war.