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A broad view of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., captured on October 28, 2021. — Reuters
WASHINGTON: The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate approved a resolution on Tuesday to stop military action against Iran. However, it remains unclear how this will influence ongoing efforts, as President Donald Trump’s administration continues negotiating a peace deal with Iran.
The Senate’s vote was 50-48 in favor of the concurrent resolution, which had already passed the House earlier this month. This indicates rising concern, even among some Republicans, about the unpopular conflict that started on February 28. The vote mostly followed party lines, with four Republicans joining nearly all Democrats. Two Republican senators did not cast a vote.
The resolution instructs Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from any hostilities involving Iran, but most interpret it as a symbolic gesture. According to the 1973 War Powers Act, the measure does not go to the White House for Trump’s signature. Meanwhile, the White House has argued that the legislation is unconstitutional and thus not legally binding. Legal experts note that this remains a complex legal issue likely to be resolved through the courts.
Scott Anderson, a senior researcher at the Brookings Institution and senior editor of Lawfare, explained, “The executive branch will probably ignore it on constitutional grounds, and it’s not clear who would have standing to pursue legal action to enforce it.”
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