Washington - Saba:
Three Democratic members of the US House of Representatives have introduced a resolution restricting President Donald Trump's military powers following the US strike on Iran.
Trump's Republican Party holds majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, making it unlikely that any resolution restricting the president's actions will pass in either chamber.
Yesterday, Monday, Iran targeted a US base in Qatar in retaliation. The military escalation between Israel and Iran, which began on June 13 when Israel launched a blatant attack on Iran, represents an additional factor of tension in a region already in turmoil since the start of the Israeli aggression on Gaza in October 2023.
The joint statement by Democratic Representatives Jim Himes, Gregory Meeks, and Adam Smith came late Monday night, hours after Trump announced on social media that Israel and Iran had reached a ceasefire agreement.
"President Trump must not be allowed to start a war with Iran or any other country without congressional approval," the representatives said in their statement, adding that Trump ordered the strikes "without any meaningful consultation or authorization from Congress."
Some members of Congress from both parties have called for restricting Trump's use of military force in Iran and preventing US involvement in this conflict. Many Democratic representatives have asserted that Trump's actions are unconstitutional, noting that the authority to declare war rests exclusively with Congress.
In contrast, House Speaker Mike Johnson said earlier Monday that the time was not right to discuss a war powers resolution.
Trump's allies maintain that he has the authority to take unilateral action against Iran to remove what they describe as a "potential nuclear threat" posed by Tehran.
But Democratic lawmakers said the US president's actions went beyond this limited scope.
They noted that "the president's social media posts about regime change undermine any claim that this operation was limited and designed only to remove a nuclear threat," referring to a Sunday post in which Trump hinted at the possibility of overthrowing the Iranian government.
The lawmakers added, "There was no thoughtful discussion or careful planning on this matter. Serious action requires serious discussion, not impulsive decisions by the head of state."
Israel is the only country in the Middle East widely believed to possess nuclear weapons and says its war against Iran aims to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear arsenal.
While Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful, and it is a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Israel is not a party to this treaty.
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