Grassley: Iran conflict is legal

Negotiations with Iran are expected to pick back up following President Donald Trump’s blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley.

During Tuesday’s Capitol Hill Report, Grassley explained his understanding of the military action in Iran.

“Based upon the latest information that I have, which is six o’clock this morning, there’s a feeling that, because the president put the blockade on, they’re going to be calling everybody back to the negotiating table,” Grassley said. “I don’t have a basis of telling you where that positive remark comes from, but it’s coming from within our own government. The fact is it’s better to negotiate than it is to fight a war.”

According to survey results from the Pew Research Center, about six in 10 Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the conflict in Iran. However, Grassley said Trump has every right to continue what he’s doing.

“[Since the early 1800s] we’ve only had five declarations of war and I’ll bet you we’ve had a couple dozen military operations that have taken place, some of them causing in Korea 36,000 deaths of American troops. And in Vietnam, a lot more than 36,000,” Grassley said. “The president is acting according to the only law that affects his decision, and that’s the War Powers Act of 1973. He’s following that very diligently.”

The War Powers Act, which was voted into law over a presidential veto, requires the President to consult with Congress before introducing military action whenever possible. In situations where “imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances,” military action commanded by the president must be reported to the Senate within 48 hours.

Additionally, if there is no declaration of war by Congress or special Congressional authorization, U.S. Armed Forces must be pulled back within 60 days. It has been 46 days since the U.S. and Israel launched a coordinated strike against Iran.

Due to the War Powers Act, Grassley said he does not believe the Senate will succeed in blocking Trump from taking any additional military action in Iran.

INSULIN Act

Since 2023, Grassley has been a cosponsor of the INSULIN Act, a bipartisan bill that looks to lower the cost of insulin, capping it at $35 a month for Americans on private and employer insurance. The act would also start a pilot program to provide insulin at the same cost to Americans without insurance.

Originally introduced in 2023, the act failed to pass out of committee the first time around. The INSULIN Act of 2026 is currently in committee, and while Grassley said he hopes it comes to vote soon, he has no idea when it will happen.

“I suppose you could say that the president’s trying to solve this through his negotiations with pharmaceutical companies, but the reason we have the legislation, we think that it still hasn’t been as successful as it should be for insulin being a hundred year old product,” Grassley said. “The prices that are paid for some of this stuff is ridiculous. I wish I could tell you it’s coming up tomorrow or next week or next month, but I’m not on that committee.”

Social Security

As prices continue to rise, many Americans are beginning to look anxiously at their savings and retirement funds. While previous generations had Social Security to fall back on in retirement, funds for the program are expected to be depleted by 2034.

“I’m sorry to say that there are bills in, but doesn’t seem to be a positive movement because some of the bills are getting bipartisan support, but not enough,” Grassley said. “That’s kind of a sad commentary because it’s easier to do something yesterday than tomorrow and the more tomorrows we wait for, the more difficult it’s going to be.”

Grassley said last year’s Working Families Tax Cut bill did help senior citizens take home more money than in previous years, but acknowledged that doesn’t help future retirees.

“Your question has to come because you wonder when you retire, will there be Social Security,” Grassley said. “There should be, and that’s why you ought to be able to count on it just like everybody else has for the last 90 years.”

The Senate will remain in session until a week-long recess the first week of May.