House Votes on Effort to Halt US Involvement in Iran Conflict

US House to Vote on Resolution to Halt Trump’s Military Actions Against Iran

The US House of Representatives is set to vote on a resolution aimed at halting President Donald Trump’s military actions against Iran. The vote, scheduled for Thursday, comes after a parallel war powers resolution failed in the Senate on Wednesday by a margin of 47-53.

The resolution, sponsored by Republican Representative Thomas Massie, seeks to rein in Trump’s administration and limit its ability to conduct military operations without Congressional approval. Massie stated that lawmakers will be forced to go on record with their positions on the issue, citing concerns about the administration’s actions being unconstitutional.

According to the US Constitution, only Congress can declare war, while Presidents have authority to conduct some military actions in instances of immediate self-defense. Critics of Trump’s actions argue that the operation launched alongside Israel is a “war of choice” and that the administration has not provided sufficient evidence of an immediate threat.

The administration has presented various rationales for its actions, including claims about Iran’s nuclear program and ballistic missile capabilities. However, experts have noted that US intelligence estimates it would take Iran until 2035 to develop a ballistic missile capable of hitting the US.

The vote in the House is expected to be significant, as Republicans control a slim majority and any attempt to rein in Trump’s actions will likely face an uphill battle. The outcome will provide insight into lawmakers’ positions on the issue and force them to go on record with their stances.

Source: Al Jazeera