U.S. Congress Directs Trump to Halt Iran Operations Without Approval

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a war powers resolution aimed at halting President Donald Trump's military operations against Iran without congressional approval. The measure, which passed with a vote of 214 to 208, saw four Republicans join Democrats in supporting the directive.

This resolution, proposed by Representative Pramila Jayapal, calls for Trump to withdraw U.S. armed forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress explicitly authorizes continued military action. While it exerts political pressure on the president, its practical impact is limited, as Congress has passed similar measures before without halting U.S. military activities.

Hours after the House vote, the Senate blocked a comparable measure. In a procedural vote, the Senate rejected a war powers resolution by a vote of 49-47. Republican Senator Susan Collins supported the resolution, aligning with Democrats, while Democrat John Fetterman voted against it, joining Republicans. Four Republican senators abstained from voting.

The votes took place against a backdrop of escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Trump had recently vowed significant retaliation against Iran and its Houthi allies after attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. U.S. forces have continued nighttime airstrikes on Iran following a breakdown in a temporary truce, with Tehran responding with attacks on U.S. bases in neighboring countries.