Senate approves resolution limiting Trump's powers in war on Iran

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday backed a new war powers resolution aimed at ending military operations against Iran unless President Donald Trump receives explicit authorization from Congress, in a rare move that reflects the widening circle of criticism within the legislature 80 days after the start of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.

According to CBS, the vote was 50 to 47, with four Republicans joining Democrats except one member, while three Republicans abstained from the session, noting that although the vote represents a symbolic victory for supporters of strengthening Congress's role in war resolutions, the resolution still faces significant obstacles before it goes into effect, especially with Republicans in control of the House of Representatives and the possibility of Trump using his veto.

Congress wants to restore constitutional role

Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, the author of the resolution, said the current ceasefire is an opportunity for Trump to present the peace proposals he said were made by Tehran, adding that the president is "throwing these proposals in the trash without discussing them with Congress."

Supporters argue that the Constitution gives Congress — not the president — the power to declare war, and that continued military operations without a clear mandate threatens to drag the United States into a protracted conflict without a clear strategy.

The White House and Republicans insist Trump's actions are "legal" and fall within his authority as commander-in-chief to protect U.S. forces through "limited" operations.

Second vote... And division within the two parties

The vote was the second since the 60-day deadline set by the War Powers Act of 1973, which requires the president to end operations or request a new authorization from Congress, and  Democratic Senator John Fetterman was the only Democratic from his party to vote against the measure.

 Republicans Rand Paul, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Bill Cassidy voted in favor of the resolution, a sign of the widening division within the Republican Party.

The vote is the seventh of its kind since the start of the war on Iran in a race, and the last vote was on May 13, and ended with the Senate failing by one vote to pass another resolution calling for the withdrawal of US troops from the war on Iran, with 49 senators, including three Republicans, voting in favor of it, while 50 senators opposed it.

Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, who supported the resolution, said Congress "must regain its constitutional role" in war resolutions.

War Powers Act: Clear Restrictions on the President

Under the law, the president cannot conduct military operations for more than 60 days without authorization, with the possibility of extending an additional 30 days for "troop safety considerations during withdrawal."

Despite Trump's announcement on May 1 that the ceasefire had "ended hostilities," the United States continues to blockade Iranian ports and continues to bomb Iranian ships while Tehran continues to close the Strait of Hormuz and attack U.S. ships, prompting lawmakers to demand a new mandate that outlines the war's goals and boundaries.