US Senate Blocks Effort to Limit Trump’s Military Powers on Iran
US Senate Blocks a Democratic-led attempt to limit former President Donald Trump’s ability to take more military action against Iran. The measure, which would have required Congress to approve any new hostilities, was voted down 53 to 47, mostly along party lines.
The proposed resolution was brought up not long after Trump hinted that there might be more airstrikes against Iran. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine led the effort to reaffirm Congress’s constitutional right to declare war, which has always been a power of lawmakers, not the president. The Senate, on the other hand, turned down the plan. Only two senators broke party lines: Democrat John Fetterman sided with Republicans, and Republican Rand Paul backed the resolution.
Constitutional Authority and Executive Power
Ahead of the vote, Senator Kaine argued that congressional oversight is critical for maintaining democratic checks and balances. “If you support the Constitution, you’ll support this resolution — regardless of your stance on Iran,” Kaine stated.
Supporters of the resolution warned against allowing unilateral military decisions without legislative input. Opponents, however, claimed that the recent strikes on Iranian nuclear sites were limited actions falling within the president’s role as commander-in-chief.
Rising Tensions and Nuclear Concerns
The debate came after the US bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities, which happened after a 12-day war between Iran and Israel. President Trump said that the sites had been “obliterated,” but many lawmakers were still not sure. Democrats were angry about classified briefings that didn’t convince them of the strike’s full effect.
Trump’s open criticism of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his decision to cancel plans to ease sanctions made things worse. He also said that if Iran kept enriching uranium above acceptable levels, more military action might be taken.
Even if the Senate had passed the resolution, it would also have needed approval from the House of Representatives. But Speaker Mike Johnson, a staunch Trump ally, had already expressed opposition, saying the timing was not appropriate.
This isn’t the first time Senator Kaine introduced such a measure. A similar resolution passed both chambers in 2020 but failed to override Trump’s veto.
