Senate Dismisses Bid to Limit Trump’s Actions on Iran

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    WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats’ attempts to curb the potential expansion of military conflict with Iran suffered a setback on Friday, as Republicans halted a resolution seeking to reestablish Congress’ war powers authority following recent U.S. military actions on Iranian nuclear sites.

    The resolution, crafted by Sen. Tim Kaine from Virginia, endeavored to affirm that President Donald Trump should obtain Congressional consent before initiating further military actions against Iran. When questioned about the possibility of ordering additional airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Trump responded, “Sure, without question.”

    The Senate, controlled by Republicans, defeated the resolution with a 53-47 vote. Democrat Sen. John Fetterman from Pennsylvania aligned with Republicans, whereas Sen. Rand Paul from Kentucky was the sole Republican supporting the measure.

    Republicans largely supported Trump’s actions, asserting that Iran posed an immediate threat necessitating decisive moves, endorsing Trump’s decision to target three Iranian nuclear sites without prior Congressional approval.

    Sen. Bill Hagerty, a Republican from Tennessee, expressed, “Debating the strategy and scope of our military is valid, but hobbling our president amid crisis is perilous.”

    Democrats challenged this rationale, contending that the president was obliged to consult Congress first. They also lamented the inadequate notification from the administration, as lawmakers were briefed only by Thursday.

    “We shouldn’t deploy our children to war without political consensus ensuring it serves the national interest,” Kaine stated in an interview. He clarified the resolution wasn’t about limiting presidential defensive actions, but emphasized thorough decision-making for offensive moves.

    Following the resolution’s failure, Kaine expressed disappointment over Congress not actively partaking in war deliberations.

    Democrats ground their support in the War Powers Resolution of the 1970s, which mandates presidential consultations with Congress before deploying troops.

    On the Senate floor, Paul affirmed his backing for the resolution, arguing that despite the success of recent strikes, they might fall short strategically.

    “There’s no certainty this intervention will halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions,” Paul remarked.

    Trump’s actions reflect a broader trend of presidents testing the resolution’s limits. His Monday letter to Congress, a requirement under the War Powers Resolution, described the strikes as “limited” and intended to “deter future threats and prevent escalation.”

    Yet, post-briefings, skepticism among some lawmakers about the immediacy of the threat remained.

    “There wasn’t an immediate threat to us,” mentioned Rep. Jim Himes, head Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. “Iran perpetually poses threats, but recent activities don’t indicate a shift from prior weeks.”

    Despite Democratic criticism, Republicans widely praised Trump’s actions. For GOP senators, supporting the resolution would challenge Trump’s authority amid their efforts to advance his legislative agendas.

    Kaine had previously proposed a similar resolution in 2020, intending to limit Trump’s wartime authority against Iran. Back then, eight Republicans, including Indiana Sen. Todd Young, backed the proposal.

    After the Senate briefing, Young expressed faith in the belief that Iran posed a significant threat, even as he reasoned that further restraint in action would remove the necessity of Kaine’s resolution for now.

    However, Young noted that should strategic circumstances evolve or demand further military engagement, Congress should be consulted to adequately fulfill its advisory role.

    Trump has indicated a ceasefire between Israel and Iran is effective, although verbal conflicts with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei persist, the latter cautioning against further U.S. military endeavors.

    White House representatives disclosed plans to engage in renewed talks with Iran, though specifics are yet to be solidified.