House Votes Down Latest Effort to Limit Trumps Authority on Iran War

US House of Representatives Votes Down War Powers Resolution

A war powers resolution aimed at curbing President Donald Trump’s authority to wage war with Iran failed in the US House of Representatives by a single vote on Thursday. The measure, which was supported by 213 Democrats and opposed by 214, would have limited the president’s ability to engage in military action without congressional approval.

The vote came a day after a similar resolution failed in the US Senate, also along party lines. Three Democratic lawmakers who had previously opposed the measure changed their stance and voted in favor of it on Thursday. One Republican, Thomas Massie, co-sponsored the bill but ultimately voted against it, while another Democrat, Jared Golden, voted against the measure.

The House defeat has underscored Republicans’ concerns about constraining Trump’s military involvement abroad. The US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, which have continued for six weeks despite ceasefire negotiations. The Trump administration maintains that Iran’s actions constitute a threat to national security, while critics argue that the attack was unprovoked.

The resolution’s failure has sparked criticism from Democrats, who accuse Republicans of giving unchecked power to the president. Representative Bill Foster stated on social media that Congress cannot “abdicate its power as a co-equal branch of government” and allow the president to wage war without approval.

Ceasefire negotiations between the US and Iran are ongoing, with talks set to take place in Pakistan. The Trump administration has announced a 10-day pause in fighting in Lebanon, but issues such as control of the Strait of Hormuz and the future of Iran’s nuclear program remain unresolved.

Source: Al Jazeera