US Democrats introduce resolution to check Trump's use of military against Iran
Three Democratic legislators from the US House of Representatives introduced a war powers resolution on Monday to check President Donald Trump's use of military force against Iran after US strikes on Tehran's nuclear sites over the weekend.
Trump's Republican Party holds a majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate and it is unlikely a resolution restricting Trump's actions could pass the two chambers.
Iran targeted a US base in Qatar on Monday in retaliation. The Israel-Iran war, which began on June 13 when Israel attacked its regional rival, further raised tensions in a region on edge since the start of Israel's war in Gaza in October 2023.
The joint statement issued late on Monday by Democratic US representatives Jim Himes, Gregory Meeks and Adam Smith came hours after Trump claimed on social media Israel and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire.
'President Trump must not be allowed to start a war with Iran, or any country, without Congressional approval,' the legislators said, adding Trump ordered the strikes 'without meaningful consultation or Congressional authorisation'.
Some Democratic and Republican legislators had called on Congress to rein in Trump's use of military force in Iran and prevent US involvement in the conflict. Many Democratic legislators said Trump's actions were unconstitutional and it was Congress that has the power to declare war on foreign countries.
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35 minutes ago
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Fragile Israel-Iran ceasefire holds for now
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IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Trump's fiery response to Israel and Iran's ceasefire breaches
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IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Iran clarifies stance on nuclear weapons and its 'legitimate rights'
Iran has defended its stance on nuclear weapons, following attacks by Israel and the US. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged Iran and Israel to respect the ceasefire that went into effect Tuesday, following 12 days of war. "The fighting must stop. The people of the two countries have already suffered too much," Guterres said on X, adding that he hoped the truce could be replicated in other conflicts in the region, such as the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday said that his country was not seeking nuclear weapons but would continue to defend its "legitimate rights" in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. As a fragile ceasefire with Israel took hold after 12 days of fighting that also included US strikes, Pezeshkian told his counterpart from the United Arab Emirates that the two countries "cannot impose unjust aspirations by force".
