US House Votes to Limit Trump's War Powers against Iran
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The US House of Representatives passed a resolution aimed at constraining President Donald Trump’s ability to take military action against Iran, sending it to the president’s desk for his expected veto.
In a largely party-line 227-186 vote, the House approved the resolution that would direct the president to “terminate the use of United States Armed Forces for hostilities against” Iran unless Congress specifically authorizes it, the Hill reported.
The Senate passed the resolution in a 55-45 vote last month, with eight Republicans siding with Democrats to support it. Neither chamber of Congress is expected to have the votes to override Trump’s likely veto.
The passage of the resolution comes after tensions with Iran spiked earlier this year to the point where Washington and Iran appeared to be on the brink of war.
US-Iran tensions have risen since Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers in 2018 and reimposed sanctions.
But Washington’s hostility skyrocketed in early January with a US drone strike that killed top Iranian commander Lt. General Qassem Soleimani.
Iran responded with a rocket attack on two military bases in Iraq housing US troops. More than 100 US troops were later diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries caused by the attack.
Six Republicans joined Democrats in voting for the resolution: Reps. Ken Buck, Thomas Massie, Morgan Griffith, Tom Reed, David Schweikert and Fred Upton.
The House previously passed a similar resolution in January a week after the assassination of Gen. Soleimani. The main difference between that measure and the one passed Wednesday is the type of resolution. The January resolution would not have had to get Trump’s signature, but that also raised questions about whether it would be binding.
The resolution passed Wednesday, which was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Tim Kaine, requires Trump’s signature.
The White House has threatened to veto the measure, saying it “fails to account for present reality.” Ahead of last month’s Senate vote on the resolution, Trump also urged senators to vote against by arguing it would “show weakness.”
