Daijiworld Media Network – Washington
Washington, Jun 4: In a significant, albeit largely symbolic move, the US House of Representatives narrowly passed a measure aimed at restricting President Donald Trump from pursuing further military action against Iran.
The war powers resolution was adopted on Wednesday in a 215-208 vote. Demonstrating a rare bipartisan rebuke of the ongoing conflict, four Republican lawmakers joined a united Democratic front. The resolution mandates that the president must withdraw US forces from the conflict or secure explicit congressional approval.
While the White House has dismissed the measure as an unconstitutional infringement on presidential authority, the vote amplifies mounting domestic pressure on the administration to end the war, which has triggered a sharp spike in petrol prices and widespread public opposition.
As a concurrent resolution, the measure would not require the president's signature if passed by the Republican-controlled Senate, though it is likely to face legal hurdles. This marks the fourth attempt by the House to curb Trump's war powers, while the Senate had advanced a similar resolution in May without holding a full floor vote.
Bipartisan pushback
Republicans Thomas Massie, Brian Fitzpatrick, Tom Barrett, and Warren Davidson crossed party lines to support the measure, alongside Maine Democrat Jared Golden, who had opposed previous iterations.
"Congress alone declares war, that's something certainly we need to be protective of," stated Michigan Republican Tom Barrett. Brushing off concerns of potential presidential retaliation, Barrett added that he voted his conscience and was willing to accept the consequences.
Representative Gregory Meeks, the leading Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a co-sponsor of the resolution, hailed the vote as a crucial first step toward concluding an "illegal and costly war." He noted that the conflict has failed to achieve its primary objectives, instead driving up domestic fuel costs and complicating diplomatic efforts regarding Iran's nuclear programme.
Ongoing hostilities despite ceasefire efforts
The current conflict escalated on February 28 following joint strikes by the US and Israel against Iran. Tehran retaliated with attacks on Israel and US allies in the Gulf, effectively shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. Following a US naval blockade in April, an initial ceasefire was brokered on April 8.
However, the truce has been fragile. The US has launched fresh strikes in recent days, prompting Iranian retaliation against Kuwait, a US ally.
Despite the renewed hostilities, President Trump maintained on Wednesday that negotiations are progressing positively and a final agreement could be reached by the weekend.
"We hit them pretty hard the night before, and actually last night," Trump told reporters at the White House, suggesting the strikes were a strong response to a different provocation. He expressed optimism about a swift resolution, noting that officials are close to signing an agreement to end the conflict "without killing everybody."