Senate rejects bid to limit Trump’s war powers on Iran

The Senate has voted down a Democratic-backed resolution that aimed to require US President Donald Trump to seek congressional approval before initiating further military actions against Iran, marking a setback for efforts to limit his war powers. 

In a 53–47 vote that largely followed party lines, the Senate declined to move forward with the resolution. The decision came nearly a week after President Trump authorized strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites without first consulting Congress, and followed an intense debate in the Senate about the legislative branch’s role in approving military force, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The resolution, introduced by Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, cited the War Powers Act of 1973, which was designed to check presidential authority in matters of armed conflict. It would have compelled the administration to inform Congress and secure authorization from both chambers before taking any additional military steps against Iran. Earlier this week, Mr. Kaine indicated he would amend the resolution to affirm the president’s right to act in self-defense.

He also clarified that the resolution would not restrict US support for Israel or any “defensive measures” it might pursue against Iran or allied forces. This move was partly intended to consolidate Democratic backing for the resolution amid internal divisions over support for Israel. Nonetheless, the proposal faced long odds in the Republican-controlled Senate, where divisions over the Iran strikes have followed stark partisan lines. Most Republicans — including many non-interventionists — backed the president, while Democrats expressed strong opposition. 

“War is too big an issue to leave to the moods and the whims and the daily vibes of any one person,” Mr. Kaine said ahead of the vote. Backers of the resolution also pushed back against President Trump’s claim - shared by many opponents of the measure - that the targeted strike did not amount to war and therefore did not require congressional approval.

By Naila Huseynova