The administration of Donald Trump faced growing political pressure over the conflict with Iran after the US Senate advanced a resolution seeking to limit the president’s authority to continue military operations against Tehran, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Wednesday.
According to the report, the Senate approved the measure by 50 votes to 47, paving the way for the matter to move to the US House of Representatives, where voting is expected later this week.
The resolution calls for ending military operations against Iran and withdrawing American forces unless Congress formally authorises continued involvement under the 1973 War Powers Act.
Earlier attempts to advance the measure had resulted in a tied vote after several lawmakers supporting the resolution were unable to attend because of medical reasons.
According to Agence France-Presse, Tuesday’s procedural vote marked the first time since the conflict began more than 11 weeks ago that either chamber of Congress had advanced legislation aimed at restricting Trump’s military operations against Iran.
AFP reported that the US Senate on Tuesday advanced a symbolic but politically potent resolution aimed at curbing President Donald Trump's authority to wage war with Iran, amid mounting concern over the conflict's spiraling cost and unclear trajectory.
The measure, which would mark a rare wartime rebuke to a sitting commander-in-chief, survived a key procedural vote -- the first time either chamber of Congress had advanced legislation seeking to limit Trump's military operations against Tehran since the war began more than 11 weeks ago.
But it still has to pass a final vote and, even then, would face major obstacles in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, which has already rejected similar efforts.
And it would almost certainly be vetoed by Trump if it reached his desk.
The vote, nevertheless, underscored growing unease inside the president's party as the conflict stretches into its third month, straining US weapons stockpiles, raising questions over military readiness and driving official cost estimates above $30 billion to date.
The resolution would require the administration to halt military action against Iran unless Congress explicitly authorises the conflict, invoking the 1973 War Powers Act passed after the Vietnam War to restrain prolonged military campaigns launched without lawmakers' approval.
"This president is like a toddler playing with a loaded gun," Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said ahead of the vote.
"If there ever was a time to support our war powers resolution to withdraw troops from hostilities with Iran, it's now."