US Democrats introduce resolution to check Trump's use of military against Iran
WASHINGTON: Three Democratic lawmakers from the U.S. House of Representatives introduced a war powers resolution on Monday to check President Donald Trump's use of military force against Iran after U.S. strikes on Tehran's nuclear sites, opens new tab over the weekend.
Trump's Republican Party holds a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate and it is unlikely any resolution restricting Trump's actions could pass both chambers.
Iran targeted, a U.S. 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 already 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 lawmakers said, adding that Trump ordered the strikes 'without meaningful consultation or Congressional authorization.'
Some Democratic and Republican lawmakers had called on Congress to rein in Trump's use of military force in Iran and prevent U.S. involvement in the conflict. Many Democratic U.S. lawmakers said Trump's actions were unconstitutional and that it was Congress that had the power to declare war on foreign countries.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said earlier on Monday it was not the time to consider a war powers resolution.
Trump announces Israel-Iran ceasefire
Trump's allies insist he had the authority to take unilateral action against Iran to eliminate what they called a potential nuclear threat posed by Tehran.
The Democratic lawmakers said Trump's actions appeared broader.
'The president has posted on social media about regime change, undermining any claim that this was a narrowly tailored operation to eliminate a nuclear threat,' the Democratic lawmakers said, referring to a Sunday post in which Trump raised the prospect of overthrowing Iran's government.
'No thoughtful deliberation nor careful planning occurred here - and serious actions demand serious debate, not presidential impulse,' they added.
Israel is the only country in the Middle East widely believed to have nuclear weapons and says its war against Iran aims to prevent Tehran from developing its own nuclear weapons.
Iran, which says its nuclear program is peaceful, is a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, opens new tab while Israel is not.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
Netanyahu says Israel has agreed to Trump's proposal for ceasefire with Iran
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Israel has agreed to US President Donald Trump's proposal for a ceasefire with Iran after it achieved its goal of removing Tehran's nuclear and ballistic missile threat, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement on Tuesday. 'Israel thanks President Trump and the United States for their support in defense and their participation in eliminating the Iranian nuclear threat,' the statement said. 'In light of the achievement of the operation's goals, and in full coordination with President Trump, Israel agreed to the President's proposal for a mutual ceasefire,' the statement added. Trump said on Tuesday a ceasefire between Israel and Iran was now in place and asked both countries not to violate it, only hours after Iran launched waves of missiles, which Israel's ambulance service said killed at least four people. Netanyahu, who will deliver a statement later on Tuesday, also said Israel would respond forcefully to any violation of the ceasefire. Israel, joined by the United States on the weekend, has carried out attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities, after alleging Tehran was getting close to obtaining a nuclear weapon. Iran denies ever having a nuclear weapons programme, but Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has said that if it wanted to, world leaders 'wouldn't be able to stop us'.
Business Recorder
2 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Oil tumbles about 5% after Israel agrees to Trump's proposal on ceasefire
SINGAPORE: Oil prices hit their lowest in two weeks on Tuesday after Israel agreed to US President Donald Trump's proposal for a ceasefire with Iran, alleviating worries of supply disruptions in the Middle East - a major oil-producing region. Brent crude futures were down $3.82, or 5.3%, at $67.66 a barrel at 0645 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell $3.75, or 5.5%, to $64.76 per barrel. Israel has agreed to Trump's proposal for a ceasefire with Iran after it achieved its goal of removing Tehran's nuclear and ballistic missile threat, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement posted by his office on Tuesday. Trump had announced on Monday that Israel and Iran have fully agreed to a ceasefire, adding that Iran will begin the ceasefire immediately, followed by Israel after 12 hours. If both sides maintain peace, the war will officially end after 24 hours, concluding a 12-day conflict. 'If the ceasefire is followed as announced, investors might expect the return to normalcy in oil,' said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova. 'Moving forward, the extent to which Israel and Iran adhere to the recently announced ceasefire conditions will play a significant role in determining oil prices,' Sachdeva said. Oil falls 6pc Trump said that a 'complete and total' ceasefire will go into force with a view to ending the conflict between the two nations. 'With the ceasefire news we are now seeing a continuation of the risk premium built into crude oil price last week all but evaporate,' said Tony Sycamore, analyst at IG. Iran is OPEC's third-largest crude producer, and the easing of tensions would allow it to export more oil and prevent supply disruptions, a major factor in oil prices jumping in recent days. Both the oil contracts settled over 7% lower in the previous session after rallying to five-month highs after the U.S. attacked Iran's nuclear facilities over the weekend, stoking fears of a broadening in the Israel-Iran conflict. The direct U.S. involvement in the war had also focused investor squarely on the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow and vital waterway between Iran and Oman in the Mideast Gulf through which between 18 and 19 million barrels per day of crude oil and fuels flow, nearly a fifth of the world's consumption. Concerns were growing that any disruption to maritime activity through the strait would catapult prices, possibly into three-digit territory. For now, however, traders were catching their breath from the recent oil price spike. 'Technically, the overnight sell-off reinforces a layer of resistance between approximately $78.40 (October 2024 and June 2025 highs) and $80.77 (the year-to-date high), and it's clear that it will take something extremely unexpected and detrimental to supply for crude oil to break through this layer of resistance,' Sycamore added.
Business Recorder
2 hours ago
- Business Recorder
KSE-100 surges over 5% amid ceasefire reports, triggering market halt
Buying spree returned to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) as investors rejoiced after US President Donald Trump said Iran and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index gaining nearly 5,900 points during the intra-day trading on Tuesday. At 11:30am, the benchmark index was hovering at 122,045.62 level, an increase of 5,878.15 points or 5.06%. Following a 5% gain, trading activity at PSX halted for 1 hour, the market will open at 12:31pm. 'All TRE Certificate Holders are hereby informed that due to a 5% increase in the KSE-30 index from the previous trading day's close of the index, a Market Halt has been triggered as per PSX Regulations and all equity and equity-based markets have been suspended accordingly,' read the notice. Across-the-board buying was observed in key sectors including automobile assemblers, commercial banks, oil and gas exploration companies, OMCs, power generation and refinery. Index-heavy stocks including HUBCO, ARL, SSGC, PSO, MARI, OGDC, PPL, POL, UBL and HBL traded in the green. 'The ceasefire announcement and a 3-4% drop in international oil prices are driving the buying rally at the bourse,' said Sana Tawfik, Head of Research at Arif Habib Limited (AHL), told Business Recorder. 'The market believes the geopolitical situation will now come under control,' she added. Intense selling pressure gripped the PSX on Monday amid escalating geopolitical tensions following a US attack on Iran, with the benchmark KSE-100 settling with a loss of nearly 3,900 points. At close, the KSE-100 Index settled at 116,167.47 level, a decrease of 3,855.77 points or 3.21%. Internationally, global shares rallied and the dollar extended declines on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump said Iran and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire, sending oil prices into a deep dive as concerns over supply disruptions ebbed. While an Iranian official earlier confirmed that Tehran had agreed to a ceasefire, the country's foreign minister said there would be no cessation of hostilities unless Israel stopped its attacks. Oil prices fell over 3%, having already slid 9% on Monday when Iran made a token retaliation against a US base, which came to nothing and signalled it was done for now. With the immediate threat to the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane seemingly over, U.S. crude futures fell another 3.4% to $66.15 per barrel, the lowest since June 11. Risk assets rallied, with S&P 500 futures up 0.6% and Nasdaq futures 0.9% higher. EUROSTOXX 50 futures jumped 1.3% and FTSE futures rose 0.4%. The MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan jumped 1.8% while Japan's Nikkei rallied 1.4%. This is an intra-day update
