A Democratic-led effort to limit President Donald Trump’s authority to wage war in Iran has failed in the US Senate for the fourth consecutive time, as Republicans largely held ranks to defeat the resolution.
The war-powers measure, which would have halted US military action in the conflict without congressional approval, was rejected by a vote of 52-47, largely along party lines. Democrats have now vowed to keep introducing similar proposals weekly, arguing the move would force every lawmaker to go on the record regarding their support for the ongoing war.
“If we’re unsuccessful, at least we’ll make clear to the American people who owns this war,” Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia told the BBC.
While most Republicans blocked the resolution, some have signalled they could change their position if the conflict extends beyond this month. Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, told the BBC he believes a swift end to the conflict is in the best interest of the United States, adding he hoped ongoing talks would succeed within days.
“That would be ideal,” Hawley said.
Republican Senator Rand Paul was the lone member of his party to vote with Democrats for the fourth time to stop the war. He predicted that more Republicans might eventually join him.
“I think that after 60 days, there may be a few more Republicans [who] join me,” Paul told the BBC.
The US-Israel strikes began on 28 February. Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, federal law requires congressional approval to continue military action for more than 60 days. The White House retains the authority to extend that deadline by an additional 30 days, citing national security.
One Democrat, Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, also voted against the measure.
President Trump has offered varying timelines on the war’s duration but told Fox News in an interview on Wednesday that the conflict was “close to over”. For now, nearly all Republicans have remained in lockstep with the president, who has ordered a US military blockade of Iranian ports.
