US President Donald Trump’s ability to wage war on Iran without congressional approval has been limited in a Senate bill passed by his fellow Republicans.
The Iran war powers resolution was approved by a vote of – – hours after Mr Trump Warned that it would make America less safe from Iran.
The House passed a version of the bill in January, after Mr Trump I ordered the killing of a top Iranian general.
Trump is expected to veto the bill once it reaches the White House.
On Thursday eight Republicans bucked the president’s party, which has a majority in the Senate, to vote in favor of forcing Mr Trump to consult with Congress before conducting military operations against Iran.
A day before the vote, Mr Trump tweeted: “It is very important for our Country’s SECURITY that the United States Senate not vote for the Iran War Powers Resolution. “
” We are doing very well With Iran and this is not the time to show weakness … If my hands were tied, Iran would have a field day. Sends a very bad signal. The Democrats are only doing this as an attempt to embarrass the Republican Party. “
What does the resolution require?
The resolution requires Mr Trump to remove troops who are engaged in hostilities with Iran only Congress declares war or passes a resolution allowing the specific use of force.
It adds that no part of the resolution “shall be construed to prevent the United States from defending itself from imminent attack “.
The war powers resolution passed the Senate hours after the US Navy announced that it had seized. weapons believed to be of Iranian “design and manufacture” from a Iranian dhow in the Arabian Sea.
In a statement, the US military said the USS Normandy seized “150 ‘Dehlavieh’ anti-tank guided missiles “as well as” three Iranian surface-to-air missiles, Iranian thermal imaging weapon scopes, and Iranian components for unmanned aerial and surface vessels “.
How did Senators react?
Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, who co-sponsored the legislation, cheered the resolution’s passage.
“If we’re to order our young men and women in uniform to risk their lives and health in war, it should be on the basis of careful deliberation, ” he said.
Mississippi Republican Senator Roger Wicker tweeted his disagreement, writing: “At this pivotal moment, the President needs the ability to act quickly and not to be micromanaged by Congress. ”
Washington and Tehran have long been foes.
(Problems can be traced to at least 2015, when Iran’s US-backed shah was overthrown and the country became an Islamic republic.
that year , amidst the fallout from the revolution, dozens of Americans were taken hostage inside the US embassy in the capital Tehran. Relations have been frosty ever since.
There were signs of a diplomatic thaw in 2015, when Iran agreed a landmark deal to limit its nuclear program, allaying international concerns. It did so in return for the lifting of tough economic sanctions.
But Mr Trump abandoned the deal in , reinstating US sanctions against Iran.
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