The U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a resolution aimed at preventing President Donald Trump from continuing military operations against Iran without congressional approval. The move, led by Democrats with limited support from some Republicans, seeks to reassert legislative oversight over war powers.
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The vote comes at a time when the United States and Israel have escalated their attacks on Iran, launching waves of strikes targeting command and control centers, strategic government headquarters, and missile launch pads. This followed Trump’s rejection of what he described as an attempt by Tehran to reopen the door for negotiations.
Meanwhile, Israel has continued its bombardment of Lebanon, while Iran has persisted in carrying out retaliatory strikes against U.S. and Israeli targets. Iranian state media reported that the funeral ceremony for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will take place in Tehran on Wednesday.
The War Powers Resolution
The resolution before the Senate is a bipartisan War Powers Resolution designed to halt the military campaign against Iran and mandate that the U.S. administration obtain authorization from Congress for any further military operations. Proponents of the bill describe the move as an effort to reclaim Congress's constitutional authority to declare war, accusing the administration of overstepping its bounds.
"It is important that every member of Congress record their position on this issue," said Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, one of the lead sponsors of the resolution, ahead of the vote. He added: "If you don't have the courage to vote yes or no on a war resolution, how dare you send our sons and daughters into a war where they risk their lives?"
Political Divisions and Potential Veto
Republicans hold a slim majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives and have previously succeeded in thwarting similar attempts to restrict Trump’s military authority. Republicans have accused Democrats of politicizing national security issues, maintaining that the operations ordered by Trump were limited and did not constitute a full-scale war.
However, the conflict between the U.S. and Israel on one side, and Iran on the other—which began five days ago—has already expanded, causing damage in Iran, Israel, and several regions across the Middle East, resulting in the first U.S. fatalities of the conflict.
The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the resolution Thursday. However, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed belief that there are enough votes to defeat it, arguing that its passage could put U.S. forces at risk. "Imagine Congress voting to tell the Commander-in-Chief that he is no longer allowed to complete the mission. That would be extremely dangerous," Johnson said, following a classified briefing provided by senior administration officials to lawmakers.
Even if the resolution passes the Senate, it would require approval from the House and a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override an expected veto from President Trump. Nevertheless, Senator Kaine indicated that supporters might reintroduce the resolution if the conflict persists. "Sometimes members see things that worry them and vote against the resolution, but as events develop, they may change their position later," Kaine added. - Agencies
