President Trump warns as tensions between Iran and Israel escalate
As Israeli-Iran’s conflict escalates, President Trump warned Iran not to attack US targets.
WASHINGTON, June 16 (Reuters) – Democrat senators introduced the law Monday to prevent President Donald Trump from using military force against Iran without Congressional permission as the growing battle between Israel and Iran sparked fears of widespread conflict.
Virginia’s Tim Kane has been trying for years to regain Congressional authority to declare war from the White House.
In 2020, Trump’s first term in office, Kane introduced a similar resolution to curb Trump’s ability to wage war with Iran. The measure passed both the Senate and House of Representatives, winning Republican support, but did not win enough votes to survive the Republican president’s veto.
Kaine said his latest war power resolution gives the US Constitution the sole authority to declare war to Congress, not the president, and requires hostility with Iran to be explicitly approved by a declaration of war or a specific approval of the use of military force.
“Unless war is absolutely necessary to protect the United States, it is not a national security interest to enter into a war with Iran. I am deeply concerned that the recent escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran will soon be able to draw the United States into another endless conflict,” Kane said in a statement.
Under US law, war resolutions are privileged. This means that the Senate must quickly review and vote on this issue.
Israeli forces launched an attack on Iran on Friday with the stated purpose of wiping out Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Iran, which has said the nuclear program is a peaceful purpose, responded with missile attacks against Israel.
The two countries continued their attacks among world leaders rallied in Canada this week, killing and wounding civilians, raising concerns that the biggest battle between two old enemies could lead to wider regional conflicts.
While praising the Israeli attack, Trump has denied Iran’s allegations that the US took part, and warned against expanding retaliation to include US targets in Tehran.
Before departing for the summit in Canada on Sunday, Trump was asked what he was doing to eliminate the situation. “I hope there will be a deal. I think it’s time for a deal,” he told reporters. “Sometimes they have to fight that.”
(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle, Editing by Saad Sayeed)