In a closely contested vote, the US House of Representatives approved a resolution aimed at limiting President Donald Trump's authority to continue military operations against Iran without explicit congressional approval, highlighting growing bipartisan concern over the escalating conflict.
The measure passed by a narrow 215-208 margin, with four Republican lawmakers joining Democrats in support of the resolution. The vote marks a rare instance of bipartisan opposition to the administration's military strategy and reflects mounting debate in Washington over the constitutional limits of presidential war powers.
The conflict with Iran, which began in February, has intensified in recent months, prompting lawmakers from both parties to question whether the President has exceeded his authority by engaging in military action without formal authorization from Congress.
This is the fourth time the House has sought to challenge Trump's use of military powers in relation to Iran. Supporters of the resolution argue that the US Constitution grants Congress the authority to declare war and that any prolonged military engagement requires legislative oversight.
"The American people deserve transparency and accountability when it comes to decisions that could draw the nation into a broader conflict," proponents of the measure said during debate on the House floor.
Despite clearing the House, the resolution faces significant obstacles before it can become law. It must still secure approval in the Republican-controlled Senate, where its prospects remain uncertain.
Even if the Senate passes the measure, President Trump is expected to veto it. Overriding a presidential veto would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers of Congress, a threshold that analysts consider highly unlikely given the current political landscape.
The White House has defended the President's actions, arguing that the administration's military operations are necessary to protect US interests and deter threats from Iran and its regional allies.
The House vote underscores the ongoing struggle between Congress and the executive branch over war-making authority, a debate that has resurfaced repeatedly during periods of military conflict. While the resolution's future remains uncertain, its passage signals growing concern among lawmakers about the scope and duration of US military involvement in the Middle East.
The Senate is expected to take up the measure in the coming weeks, setting the stage for another high-stakes showdown over presidential powers and US foreign policy.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday commemorated the 37th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, saying the world continues to remember those who were killed while demanding democratic reforms and warning that "no amount of censorship can erase the past."
In a statement issued ahead of the June 4 anniversary, Rubio said the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had ordered troops to attack "thousands of peaceful demonstrators in and around" Tiananmen Square in 1989.
"Chinese students, workers, and other civilians who lost their lives had gathered to exercise their natural rights and demand democratic reforms and accountability for corruption," Rubio said.
"We remember their lives and honour their legacy. No amount of censorship can erase the past," he added.
Rubio further stated that those who sacrificed themselves in defence of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly would ultimately be vindicated.
Separately, the bipartisan leadership of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) also marked the anniversary with a strongly worded statement criticising Beijing's handling of the events of June 4, 1989.
The statement, issued jointly by Senator Dan Sullivan and Representative Chris Smith, questioned why peaceful calls for reform were met with force.
"Thirty-seven years after tanks rolled into Beijing, the Chinese Communist Party still refuses to answer the most basic question: Why were peaceful calls for freedom and reform met with bullets and bloodshed?" the lawmakers said.
