Growing Republican concern over the Trump administration's military campaign against Iran is increasingly focused on how the war can end without hurting the GOP's chances in November.
Several Senate Republicans said they remain committed to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, but are frustrated they have not received a clearer strategy for bringing the conflict to a close as U.S. casualties mount and gasoline prices remain elevated.
"There's got to be an off-ramp, that's all there is to it," Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., said after War Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee in support of another $80 billion in emergency funding for the war, according to The Hill.
Justice said Republicans are deeply concerned about the recent deaths of U.S. service members and the growing number of civilian casualties inside Iran.
"We've got to make one of two decisions," Justice said. "Either just pull out and leave and roll the dice and hope for the best, or we've got to win, and winning is only one thing: Make sure they don't have a nuclear weapon."
Behind closed doors, lawmakers also are worried about the political fallout from rising fuel prices.
One Republican senator, speaking anonymously to The Hill, warned that higher gasoline costs are "a big worry" heading into the midterm elections.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., remained one of the administration's sharpest Republican critics, arguing the conflict has left the United States in a weaker strategic position.
"I think the Iran war has not been a success," Paul said. "By any objective measure we're worse off than we were before the war," according to The Hill.
Paul pointed to the militarization of the Strait of Hormuz, soaring oil prices, and higher inflation as evidence that the conflict has imposed growing costs on American consumers.
Asked whether Republicans could face voter backlash in November, Paul replied, "Probably."
Other Republicans urged the administration to intensify military pressure rather than scale back.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, argued the United States should demonstrate its "decisive military edge" to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and force Iran into a lasting agreement.
Meanwhile, the Republican-controlled House narrowly approved a largely symbolic war powers resolution directing President Donald Trump to halt military action against Iran unless Congress authorizes it.
Four Republicans joined Democrats in supporting the measure, highlighting lingering divisions within the GOP even as most Republicans continue backing Trump's broader objective of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has also acknowledged growing restlessness on Capitol Hill, saying the administration must find a way to "wrap it up" while still achieving its core national security goal.
Reuters contributed to this report.