President Donald Trump has condemned a House resolution aimed at limiting his authority to take military action against Iran, calling the vote "unpatriotic" and warning it would embolden Tehran. The resolution, passed largely along party lines, seeks to reassert congressional war powers amid escalating tensions that have raised concerns over the United States' growing diplomatic isolation on the world stage.
The House voted 224 to 194 on Thursday to approve the measure, which directs the president to cease hostilities against Iran unless Congress explicitly authorises military force. The bill, introduced by Representative Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat and former CIA analyst, reflects deepening unease in Washington over the administration's strategy towards Iran following the killing of General Qassem Soleimani and Iran's subsequent missile strikes on Iraqi bases housing US troops.
Mr Trump, speaking at a campaign rally in Milwaukee, described the vote as "a gift to Iran" and accused Democrats of undermining national security. "This is just another attempt by the radical left to weaken America and divide our country," he said. "We have never been safer. Iran is backing down, and our military is stronger than ever."
But critics argue that the administration's approach has alienated key allies and increased the risk of a broader conflict. The European Union, which has sought to preserve the 2015 nuclear deal that the US withdrew from in 2018, has distanced itself from Washington's maximum pressure campaign. France, Germany and Britain triggered a dispute resolution mechanism in January, a move that could lead to renewed UN sanctions on Iran.
Meanwhile, the US has struggled to build a coalition for its strategy. The United Nations Security Council rejected a US-backed resolution on extending an arms embargo on Iran in August, with only the Dominican Republic supporting the measure. Russia and China voted against it, while 11 members, including key allies such as France, Germany and the UK, abstained.
Analysts say the House vote is unlikely to become law as the Republican-led Senate is expected to block it. But it exposes a rare bipartisan fracture over national security policy. Some Republican senators, including the influential Ted Cruz, have expressed support for reasserting congressional authority, though they have not endorsed the House bill.
At issue is the fundamental question of war powers. The Constitution vests Congress with the sole authority to declare war, but presidents have increasingly used their powers as commander-in-chief to carry out military operations without explicit approval. The 1973 War Powers Resolution requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action and restricts engagements to 60 days without congressional authorisation.
Since the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force against al-Qaeda, successive administrations have cited it as legal justification for counterterrorism operations around the world. The Trump administration has argued that the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force against Iraq also covers operations against Iranian-backed militias.
During the debate, lawmakers cited concerns that an escalatory spiral with Iran could draw the US into a costly and prolonged conflict. "We do not want another endless war in the Middle East," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "The American people deserve a voice in decisions that could lead to war."
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the Pentagon has not seen evidence that Iran is preparing a major attack, but warned that the threat from Iranian proxies remains high. "Our goal is to deter Iran from taking further provocative actions," he told reporters.
International observers have noted that the diplomatic chasm between Washington and its traditional allies has widened. "The House vote underscores a growing disconnect between the US Congress and the Trump administration's foreign policy, which is increasingly running counter to the interests of European allies," said Dr. John Garvey, a geopolitics scholar at the Royal United Services Institute. "This is not a sustainable position for the United States. It risks further isolating Washington and weakening the multilateral institutions that have underpinned global stability for decades."
The resolution's passage comes as the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium is now more than eight times the limit set by the 2015 nuclear deal. Iran has also resumed enrichment at underground facilities, raising concerns that it could develop a nuclear weapon within months if it chose to do so.
Administration officials argue that only continued pressure can force Iran back to negotiations. "Iran has a choice to make," said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. "It can either renounce its nuclear ambitions and end its support for terrorism, or face further isolation and economic collapse."
But critics contend that the administration's strategy has backfired, driving Iran into a corner and reducing the prospects for a diplomatic resolution. "The United States has effectively ceded the moral high ground on non-proliferation by walking away from the JCPOA and then demanding that Iran comply with its terms," said Dr. Elena Sandulescu, a former UN weapons inspector. "The House vote reflects a recognition that the administration's approach has been irresponsibly confrontational."
As the debate continues, the United States appears no closer to achieving its stated goal of a comprehensive deal that covers Iran's nuclear program, missile development and support for regional proxies. The House vote may prove to be a symbolic gesture, but it underscores the deep divisions that now characterise US foreign policy in an increasingly multipolar world.
