Senate rejects resolution to restrict Trump’s war powers against Iran

Republican senators have blocked a resolution that would have required US President Donald Trump to seek congressional approval for any future US military action against Iran.

According to CNN, the US Senate rejected the measure in a vote of 47 in favor and 53 against. Republican Senator Rand Paul joined nearly all Democrats in supporting the resolution, while Democratic Senator John Fetterman sided with Republicans in voting against it.

Even if the resolution had been approved, it would still have faced significant hurdles on Capitol Hill. The proposal would first have needed to pass in the Senate as an amendment and then be sent to the House of Representatives. There, it likely would have faced a presidential veto, which could only be overridden with a two-thirds majority vote.

The decision by Republican senators to block the measure came after Trump sharply criticised five members of his own party who had supported a previous resolution related to US military action in Venezuela. Of those five Republicans, only Paul again voted to restrict the president’s authority.

The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the same issue on Thursday, March 5.

The Senate vote took place amid rapidly escalating tensions following military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel against Iran. The proposed resolution sought to limit Trump’s ability to continue military operations against Iran without the approval of Congress.

By Tamilla Hasanova