US Senate advances resolution to curb Trump’s power to wage war on Iran

Vote to advance War Powers Resolution seen as rare rebuke of the president as pressure grows to end US attacks on Iran.The United States Senate has advanced a War Powers Resolution that could prevent President Donald Trump from using military force against Iran without congressional authorisation amid widening fallout from the conflict.The vote on a procedural measure to advance the resolution was passed on Tuesday by a margin of 50 to 47, with a handful of Republicans joining Democratic colleagues to pass the measure in a rare rebuke of the president.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3In rare push, US lawmakers demand transparency on Israel nuclear capabilitylist 2 of 3Senators press US military on Israel’s displacement campaign in Lebanonlist 3 of 3Three Republicans break ranks, but Senate fails to curb Trump’s war powersend of listThe vote showed that a small but growing number of Republicans are increasingly uneasy with a war that shows no signs of ending, amid a fragile ceasefire, and are willing to challenge the president.“This president is like a toddler playing with a loaded gun,” Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said before the vote.“If there was ever a time to support our War Powers Resolution to withdraw troops from hostilities with Iran, it’s now,” he said.The result was also a victory for lawmakers who have been arguing that Congress, ⁠not the president, should have the power to send troops to war, as spelled out in the US Constitution.However, it was only a procedural vote, and the resolution faces steep hurdles if it is ever to go into effect. Three Republicans were absent during the vote on Tuesday, and their votes would be enough to defeat the measure if they maintain their stance in favour of the war.But even if the resolution is eventually passed by a vote of the 100-member Senate, it must also pass the Republican-led House of Representatives and garner two-thirds majorities in both the House and Senate to survive an expected Trump veto.