ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Three Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives introduced a war powers resolution on Monday aiming to restrict President Donald Trump from deploying military force against Iran without explicit congressional approval. The move follows weekend U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Democratic Response to Iranian Retaliation
The initiative comes amid escalating tensions: Iran conducted a retaliatory attack Monday on a U.S. base located in Qatar. This development follows the Israel–Iran conflict that flared on June 13, triggered by Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, in a region already destabilized by the ongoing Israel–Gaza war since October 2023.
Bipartisan Concern Over Executive Authority
Representatives Jim Himes, Gregory Meeks, and Adam Smith jointly emphasized: *“President Trump must not be allowed to start a war with Iran, or any country, without Congressional approval,”* asserting that the President acted *“without meaningful consultation or Congressional authorization.”* Both Democratic and Republican legislators have urged Congress to assert greater control over presidential military action, citing constitutional authority over war declarations.
Speaker Opposes Resolution
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, stated Monday that it is not the appropriate moment to consider a war powers resolution, dismissing the initiative for the time being.
Presidential Justification vs. Democratic Skepticism
Trump’s supporters defend his unilateral authority to neutralize perceived nuclear threats. However, the Democratic authors of the resolution question the administration’s motives. The lawmakers cited Trump’s social media remarks about regime change, arguing that these comments *“undermining any claim that this was a narrowly tailored operation to eliminate a nuclear threat.”* They added, *“No thoughtful deliberation nor careful planning occurred here – and serious actions demand serious debate, not presidential impulse.”*
Regional Nuclear Context
Israel, the only Middle Eastern nation widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, argues its actions aim to prevent Iran from acquiring a similar capability. Iran, a signatory to the Nuclear Non‑Proliferation Treaty (NPT), maintains its nuclear program is peaceful, while Israel is not a party to the NPT.
