Congress Passes War Powers Measure For First Time, Rebuking Trump's War With Iran

The Republican-controlled US Senate has approved a measure instructing President Donald Trump to halt the war in Iran or seek congressional approval before continuing military action.

A handful of Republicans joined Democrats in Tuesday's 50-48 vote. The same measure was passed by the US House of Representatives earlier this month.

But the resolution is largely symbolic because, even after passing both chambers of Congress, it will not be sent to Trump for his consideration and does not carry the force of the law.

It came as Republicans in Congress have expressed scepticism about a peace plan Trump agreed with Iran, and the unpopular conflict approaches its fifth month.

Trump criticised the resolution on Tuesday night, calling it "poorly timed and meaningless".

"So, I have Iran on the 'ropes,' ready to go down for the fall... and the U.S. Senate decides to have a poorly timed and meaningless War Powers Act Vote," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

"These Senators have just made my job more difficult, but I will get it done, one way or the other, because I always get it done!"

The vote marks the first time that both chambers of Congress have approved a concurrent resolution instructing a president to end a military action since the War Powers Resolution of 1973 was enacted.

A concurrent resolution expresses the sentiment or will of Congress, as opposed to other forms of legislation that go to the president to be signed into law. In 2019, Trump vetoed a joint resolution that called for the removal of armed forces from hostilities in the Yemeni civil war.


Source: BBC