The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives has approved a resolution directing President Donald Trump to halt military action against Iran unless he secures congressional authorisation.
The House voted 214-208 on Thursday in favour of the war powers resolution, with four Republicans joining Democrats in supporting the measure.
However, the Senate blocked a similar proposal hours later, voting 49-47 against advancing its own war powers resolution.
The House resolution, introduced by Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington, directs Trump “to remove the use of United States Armed Forces from hostilities” against Iran unless Congress authorises military action.
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Although the measure is not legally binding, it reflects growing unease in Congress over the expanding conflict. Similar resolutions passed since the United States and Israel began strikes on Iran on February 28 have failed to bring military operations to an end.
The four Republicans who supported the House resolution were Representatives Tom Barrett of Michigan, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Warren Davidson of Ohio and Thomas Massie of Kentucky.
In the Senate vote, Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine sided with Democrats in backing the resolution, while Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voted with Republicans against it. Four Republican senators did not vote.
The votes underscored mounting concern among lawmakers from both parties over a conflict that Trump had initially presented as a limited operation but which has evolved into a prolonged military engagement.
Speaking after the House vote, Jayapal welcomed the outcome.
“This is not a partisan issue. Vast majorities of Americans, of all parties, believe that this is an unconstitutional and illegal war that needs to stop,” she said, citing the deaths of troops and civilians as well as rising fuel costs linked to the conflict.
With congressional midterm elections approaching in November, Democrats are seeking to tie the unpopular war to broader concerns over the cost of living, while Republicans argue that criticism of the military campaign undermines the president during wartime.
Republican Senator Tim Sheehy rejected the resolutions, saying the conflict should not be viewed through a partisan lens.
“This regime that we are fighting does not care about our partisan politics,” he said, accusing supporters of the resolution of “defending these lunatics who want us all dead” while praising Trump’s military action against Iran.
Under the U.S. Constitution, Congress has the authority to declare war and authorise the use of military force, although presidents have historically ordered limited military operations without prior congressional approval.
The votes came as Trump intensified military operations against Iran, promising “major military punishment” for Iran and its Houthi allies after Houthi fighters attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.
The U.S. military also launched another round of overnight airstrikes on Iranian targets, prompting retaliatory missile attacks on U.S. bases in neighbouring countries
