U.S. House passes resolution limiting Trump's power to launch military operations against Iran

Washington
March 12, 2020, 11:16 AM
by AP/UNB

UNB News
Washington
Publish- March 12, 2020, 11:16 AM
AP/UNB
Update- March 12, 2020, 11:20 AM

U.S. House passes resolution limiting Trump's power to launch military operations against Iran

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., center, flanked by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, speaks to reporters just after the Senate advanced a bipartisan resolution asserting that President Donald Trump must seek approval from Congress before engaging in further military action against Iran, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

U.S. House of Representatives approved a resolution on Wednesday to curb the president's power to use military forces against Iran, and sent the bill to President Donald Trump's desk where it is expected to be vetoed.

The House passed the war powers resolution in a largely party-line vote of 227 against 186. The resolution directs the U.S. president to terminate the use of U.S. military for hostilities against Iran without congressional approval.

The Republican-controlled Senate passed the resolution last month.

The resolution, however, is unlikely to become law as Trump is expected to veto it, and Congress might not have enough votes to override a presidential veto.

The passage of the resolution came over two months after a U.S. strike killed senior Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, which raised fears of an uncontrollable conflict between the two sides.