Senate Republicans Again Halt Bid to Limit Trump’s Iran War Powers

Mintesinot Niggusie

Three Republican senators joined Democrats on Wednesday in backing an effort to advance legislation requiring President Donald Trump to obtain congressional approval for continued military action against Iran, though the measure ultimately failed in the Senate by a 50-49 vote.

The proposal, introduced by Senator Jeff Merkley, was blocked largely along party lines, marking the seventh unsuccessful Democratic attempt this year to restrict Trump’s authority over the conflict. Republican senators Rand Paul, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voted to move the resolution forward.

The vote came after a May 1 deadline linked to the 1973 War Powers Resolution. Trump has argued that the timeline no longer applies because a ceasefire with Iran had effectively ended the conflict. Democrats disputed that claim, saying military confrontations between the two countries were still taking place.

Merkley said ongoing naval operations and blockades showed that hostilities had not ceased. Senate Democrats said they intended to continue bringing forward similar resolutions until either the war ends or Trump formally seeks authorisation from lawmakers, citing the Constitution's sole authority for Congress to declare war.

Republicans and the White House maintain that the president acted within his constitutional powers as commander-in-chief, describing the operations as limited military measures aimed at protecting US interests.