WASHINGTON: The United States Senate has rejected a resolution aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s authority to continue military strikes against Iran.
The bipartisan measure, introduced by Tim Kaine and Rand Paul, sought to require the withdrawal of US forces from hostilities with Iran unless Congress formally authorized the campaign.
However, the resolution failed in a 53–47 vote, reflecting strong support from Republican lawmakers for the president’s military actions.
Debate Over War Powers
Democratic lawmakers argued that the president had bypassed Congress by ordering airstrikes on Iran without prior authorization.
Senator Tim Kaine said that classified briefings provided to lawmakers did not present evidence of an imminent threat from Iran to the United States.
Republicans, meanwhile, defended the military action, saying Iran had long posed a threat to US forces and interests in the region.
Growing Conflict in the Middle East
The vote comes amid an escalating conflict following US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which triggered retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the Gulf region.
The conflict has already resulted in the deaths of senior Iranian officials, including Ali Khamenei, and casualties among US troops stationed in the Middle East.
War Powers Act
The resolution invoked the War Powers Resolution, a law passed after the Vietnam War to limit the president’s ability to conduct military operations without congressional approval.
Even if the measure had passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives, President Trump could have vetoed it, requiring a two-thirds majority.