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A Democratic senator introduced legislation on Monday to prevent US President Donald Trump from using military force against Iran without Congress's authorisation, as an escalating battle between Israel and Iran raised fears of a broader conflict.
Tim Kaine of Virginia has tried for years to wrest back Congress's authority to declare war from the White House.
During Trump's first term, in 2020, Kaine introduced a similar resolution to rein in the Republican president's ability to wage war against Iran. That measure passed both the Senate and House of Representatives, with some Republican support, but did not garner enough votes to survive the president's veto.
Kaine said his latest war powers resolution underscores that the USConstitution gives Congress, not the president, the sole power to declare war and requires that any hostility with Iran be explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for the use of military force.
"It is not in our national security interest to get into a war with Iran unless that war is absolutely necessary to defend the United States. I am deeply concerned that the recent escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran could quickly pull the United States into another endless conflict," Kaine said in a statement.
Under US law, war powers resolutions are privileged, meaning that the Senate will be required to promptly consider and vote on the matter.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, accused Israel of timing its attack on Iran to sabotage talks on Iran's nuclear program that had been scheduled for Sunday. He also said Washington should avoid the conflict.
"The US Constitution is crystal clear: there can be no offensive use of military force — against Iran or any other country — without an explicit authorization from Congress," Sanders said in a statement.
MOST REPUBLICANS LIKELY TO BACK TRUMP
Some Republicans said the United States should avoid war. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul said he hoped Trump would not give in to pressure to get involved. "It's not the U.S.' job to be involved in this war," Paul said on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday.
"This is not our war. We should not engage our military here," Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky said on X.
But most of Trump's fellow Republicans, who control Congress, have shown little appetite for opposing the president and are likely to back him if he decides to get more involved in the conflict. Most Republicans also have been staunch advocates for providing military support to the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"If diplomacy fails... help Israel finish the job. Give them bombs, fly with them if necessary," Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said on CBS's Face the Nation on Sunday. "... If you want to convince international terrorism we mean business, you've got to finish the job with Iran," he said.
Israel's military launched attacks on Iran on Friday with the stated aim of wiping out Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Iran, which says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, responded with missile attacks on Israel.
Both countries have kept up their attacks, killing and wounding civilians and raising concern among world leaders meeting in Canada this week that the biggest battle yet between the two old enemies could lead to a broader regional conflict.
Trump has lauded Israel's offensive, while denying Iranian allegations that the US has taken part and warning Tehran not to widen its retaliation to include US targets.