House Passes Resolution to Curb Trump’s Iran War Authority; Senate Blocks Similar Measure

By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON, July 23 (Reuters) — On Thursday, the Republican‑controlled House approved a resolution urging President Donald Trump to cease military operations against Iran unless he secures congressional authorization, while the Senate, just hours afterward, voted down a comparable proposal.

The House vote — 214‑208 in favor — marked the latest congressional rebuke of Trump, with four Republicans crossing party lines to support the war‑powers measure.

The Senate, however, rejected its own war‑powers resolution by a narrow 49‑47 margin shortly after the House action.

Introduced by Washington Democrat Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the House resolution called for Trump to withdraw U.S. armed forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress grants approval.

Although largely symbolic, the measure echoes previous resolutions passed after the U.S. and Israel initiated strikes on Iran on February 28; none have halted the conflict.

The four Republicans who backed the resolution were Tom Barrett (Michigan), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pennsylvania), Warren Davidson (Ohio) and Thomas Massie (Kentucky).

In the Senate’s procedural vote, Republican Susan Collins of Maine sided with Democrats in support of the measure, while Democrat John Fetterman of Pennsylvania aligned with Republicans in opposition; four Republican senators abstained.

Republicans, led by Trump, maintain narrow majorities in both chambers.

The votes underscore mounting frustration among legislators — from both parties — over a conflict that Trump portrayed as a swift, limited operation destined to force Iran’s surrender, yet which has instead become a protracted quagmire for the United States.

MIDTERMS LOOM

Following the vote, Jayapal told reporters she was pleased with the House outcome, saying, “This isn’t a partisan matter; broad majorities of Americans across the political spectrum view the war as unconstitutional and illegal and believe it must end,” citing troop and civilian casualties as well as rising fuel costs.

With the November midterms approaching and polls indicating a tough battle for Trump’s Republicans to retain control of the House and Senate, Democrats are trying to tie the unpopular Iran conflict to pocketbook issues.

Critics, however, accused the resolution’s backers of using the vote for political gain and of undermining the president during wartime.

“The regime we are fighting pays no heed to our partisan squabbles,” said Republican Senator Tim Sheehy of Montana, who accused the resolution’s supporters of “defending these lunatics who want us all dead” and lauded Trump for striking Iran.

Under the U.S. Constitution, only Congress — not the president — holds the authority to authorize military force and deploy troops abroad, though presidents have frequently ordered limited operations in response to imminent threats.

Trump has recently escalated attacks on Iran, resulting in additional U.S. service‑member deaths. On Thursday he warned of “major military punishment” for Iran and its Houthi allies after Yemeni fighters hit two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, widening the Middle East conflict to a second vital shipping lane.

Furthermore, two weeks after the collapse of an interim truce intended to end the war, the U.S. military began another nightly series of airstrikes on Iran, prompting Tehran to target U.S. installations in neighboring countries.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; editing by Rod Nickel, Don Durfee and Deepa Babington)

Source link