Washington, United States. The U.S. Senate on Tuesday approved legislation directing President Donald Trump to halt U.S. military action against Iran, marking the latest rebuke from Congress as concern grows over the conflict.
Senate approves war powers resolution
The Senate voted 50-48 in favor of the war powers resolution, which passed the House of Representatives earlier this month. The vote reflected rising concern, including among some Republicans, about the conflict that began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran.
First such action since 1973 law
It was the first time both chambers of Congress had passed a resolution directing a president to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities since the War Powers Resolution, also known as the War Powers Act, was enacted in 1973.
Political significance and funding concerns
While the measure is likely to remain largely symbolic, the vote represented a setback for Trump, who until recently had enjoyed near-unanimous support from Republican members of Congress.
The vote also came as the administration is expected to ask Congress to authorize tens of billions of dollars to pay for the war.
Republican divisions ahead of mid-term elections
Trump’s Republicans hold slim majorities in both the Senate and House, but a few have broken with the president on several issues ahead of the mid-term elections in November, which will determine whether the party retains control of Congress.
Some Republicans recently opposed Trump’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund intended to compensate political allies he says were targeted by federal authorities, and they also stalled a $70 billion bill to fund his immigration crackdown.
Public opinion and vote breakdown
Reuters/Ipsos poll results released on Tuesday showed that one in four Americans believe the war against Iran was worth its costs, while a majority said they were concerned that a truce with Tehran would not last.
The Senate vote was largely along party lines, with four Republicans joining all but one Democrat in favor. Two Republican senators did not vote.
Trump response
In a post late on Tuesday, Trump criticized the vote, calling it “poorly timed and meaningless,” and accused those who supported it of providing “comfort” to Iran and making his job “more difficult”.