Summary of H.Con.Res. 87 (118th/119th Congress) – Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran

Note: This is a concurrent resolution directing the President under the War Powers Resolution. It does not itself authorize or appropriate funding or declare war, but serves as a legislative directive.

1) Main purpose and intent

• The bill directs the President to terminate United States involvement in hostilities with the Islamic Republic of Iran or its government or military.
• Specifically, under section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, the President must remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran unless there is a declaration of war or a specific authorization for use of military force (AUMF) against Iran.
• The resolution thus seeks an end to U.S. military actions in Iran-related hostilities not authorized by a formal act of Congress.

2) Key provisions and changes

• Section 1: Termination of use of force

  • (a) Directs the President to terminate hostilities in Iran and to remove U.S. Armed Forces from any combat role or occupation in Iran or its government/military.
  • This applies unless Congress authorizes war or a specific AUMF against Iran.
  • (b) Clarifies three rule-of-construction points: 1) The measure does not prevent self-defense, defense of U.S. forces or facilities, or defense of allies against imminent attack. 2) It does not prevent maintaining a troop presence in the region for defensive purposes. 3) It does not force removal of U.S. troops in the region who are not engaged in hostilities against Iran.

• Section 2: Rule of construction relating to intelligence sharing

  • States that nothing in the resolution should disrupt intelligence activities (collection, analysis, or sharing) related to threats in or emanating from Iran or nearby countries, if such sharing is determined appropriate and in U.S. national security interests.

• Section 3: Rule of construction relating to non-authorization of the use of military force

  • Clarifies that the concurrent resolution does not authorize the use of military force by itself (consistent with War Powers Resolution section 8(a)(1)).

3) Who or what would be affected

• U.S. Armed Forces: A directive to end U.S. hostilities in or against Iran, removing combat forces unless authorized by Congress.
• U.S. President and executive branch: A legislative instruction to terminate military hostilities with Iran under the War Powers framework.
• Intelligence and defense collaboration: Protection of ongoing intelligence, counterintelligence, and joint intelligence-sharing activities with allies, provided such activities align with national security interests.
• U.S. allies and regional posture: Potential changes in U.S. military presence in the region, with emphasis on defensive or non-hostile roles preserved per the carve-outs.

4) Procedural and timeline aspects

• Status: The bill was introduced in the House on April 21, 2026 by Representative Ro Khanna and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. A co-sponsor is Rep. Ro Khanna (additional co-sponsor indicated; the sponsor list shows Khanna as primary and may include a co-sponsor addition).
• This is a concurrent resolution, not a treaty or authorization bill; it expresses the sense or directive of Congress regarding the War Powers Resolution.
• Timeline/Effect: If enacted, the President would be required to terminate hostilities and withdraw combat forces from Iran unless there is a formal declaration of war or a specific AUMF. It operates under the procedural mechanism of section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution.

5) Additional notes

• The measure preserves self-defense and defensive troop deployments, as well as ongoing intelligence-sharing arrangements if deemed in the national security interest.
• It does not constitute new authorization to use military force; rather, it enforces an orderly withdrawal from hostilities with Iran absent a new congressional authorization.

If you’d like, I can compare this resolution to prior War Powers actions or outline potential legal and diplomatic implications of its passage.