US Congress Passes Proposal to Limit Trump’s Authority Over Potential Iran War

International Desk: PNN

The United States House of Representatives has approved a proposal aimed at restricting President Donald Trump’s authority to take military action against Iran. The resolution passed on Wednesday in Washington, D.C., with a narrow 215–208 vote, with four Republican lawmakers joining Democrats in support.

Although the measure is unlikely to become law immediately, it represents a significant political message from Congress opposing aspects of Trump’s Iran policy. Under the US Constitution, the power to declare war lies with Congress, but recent years have seen increasing debate over presidents authorizing military actions independently.

The proposal calls for Trump to seek congressional approval before launching any military operations against Iran. The issue has gained urgency amid ongoing conflict between the two countries, which reportedly escalated after a US-backed Israeli strike on Iran on February 28, now approaching 100 days.

The vote highlighted divisions within the Republican Party. Lawmakers from Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky broke ranks to support the measure, arguing that war powers should not rest solely with the president and that prolonged military operations require congressional authorization.

Democrats have urged the Senate to act quickly, warning that the war is increasing economic pressure and wasting public resources.

Concerns over war spending are also rising. The Pentagon estimates that the Iran-related conflict has already cost around $29 billion, though analysts believe the actual figure could be significantly higher and may exceed $1 trillion in the long term.

Reports also suggest that the war is straining US military readiness, with declining stockpiles of key weapons and ammunition raising future security concerns.

Public opinion in the United States is also shifting against the war, with recent surveys indicating that most citizens view the conflict as more harmful than beneficial.

The proposal will now move to the Senate, where a similar bill has already passed. However, achieving the required two-thirds majority in both chambers remains highly unlikely, according to observers.