The US Senate has backed a resolution calling for an end to military action against Iran
On 23 June, the US Senate backed a legislative initiative requiring President Donald Trump to cease US military action against Iran. Fifty senators voted in favour of the resolution, whilst 48 voted against it, according to Reuters.
Earlier this month, the House of Representatives also approved the bill. This marks the first time since the passage of the War Powers Act in 1973 that both houses of Congress have backed a resolution calling for the withdrawal of US troops from combat operations.
The vote was yet another signal from Congress amid growing concerns over the war with Iran, which began on 28 February following attacks by the US and Israel on Iran. The resolution was supported largely along party lines, though four Republicans joined the Democrats. Two other Republican senators did not take part in the vote.
Despite Congress’s support, the White House stated that the vote has no legal force. The Trump administration emphasised that such resolutions are not sent to the president for signature and do not have the force of law. The White House also stated that military operations had effectively ended following the ceasefire on 7 April.
Donald Trump himself criticised the Senate’s decision, calling it “ill-timed and meaningless”. He also stated that those who supported the resolution had complicated his work and effectively lent their support to Iran.
The legal status of the resolution remains unclear. The War Powers Act of 1973 provided for such a mechanism to terminate military operations; however, in 1983, the US Supreme Court ruled that such resolutions must be submitted to the President for signature or veto in order to take legal effect.
Experts believe that only the courts can provide a definitive answer regarding the constitutionality of this mechanism. Scott Anderson, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, noted that the executive branch is likely to ignore the resolution on constitutional grounds.
Democrats insist that it is Congress, not the President, that has the right to decide whether the country should enter a war. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine stated that Congress must bear responsibility for such decisions.
In the House of Representatives, the resolution was also passed by a narrow majority. 215 members of Congress voted in favour, whilst 208 voted against.
It is expected that Congress will also be involved in considering a possible peace agreement with Tehran, should it relate to Iran’s nuclear programme.
