A Blow to Trump.. The U.S. House of Representatives May Put an End to the War with Iran

SadaNews: The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives approved a measure on Wednesday aimed at restricting President Donald Trump's ability to continue the war against Iran, a step that reflects growing concern within the Republican Party itself about the ongoing conflict that has lasted over three months.

The House voted 215 to 208 in favor of the war powers resolution after four Republican representatives joined Democrats in supporting the measure, which demands the president withdraw American forces engaged in operations within Iran unless Congress grants explicit authorization for military action or formally declares war.

The vote represents the latest political setback for Trump in Congress, although its practical impact remains limited for now. For the resolution to take effect, it must also be approved by the Senate, in addition to ongoing legal and constitutional debates regarding the enforceability of war powers decisions even if passed by Congress.

However, the significance of the vote lies in the political message it carries, as it reflects rising fears among several Republicans about how the U.S. administration is managing the war, as well as representing rare bipartisan cooperation in an attempt to limit the president's military powers at a time when the conflict has entered its fourth month with no clear signs of nearing an end.

The approval of the resolution came after a series of previous unsuccessful attempts, as three similar bills had previously failed in the House by narrow margins. Republican leaders had unexpectedly postponed a vote on the proposal last month when estimates indicated a genuine opportunity for its passage.

In the Senate, a similar resolution passed last month in procedural voting after seven previous attempts failed, but a date for a final vote has not yet been set.

No Democratic representative voted against the resolution, while seven members of the House abstained from casting their votes.

This comes at a time when Trump is facing increasing opposition within Congress, after spending several months without facing significant resistance from members of his party regarding most of his initiatives and policies.

Democrats argue that the president should have turned to Congress to obtain authorization for using military force against Iran, pointing out that the U.S. Constitution grants legislative power solely the authority to declare war, not the president.

They also warned that Trump may have plunged the United States into a long-term conflict without a clear strategy for withdrawal, criticizing the economic implications of the war, particularly the increases in gasoline prices, food prices, and other consumer goods since the start of the joint American-Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28.

Democrats have made rising living costs one of the main pillars of their political and economic discourse ahead of the midterm elections set for next November, which will determine whether Republicans retain control of Congress.

Economic data indicates that U.S. producer prices recorded their largest increase in four years in April, driven by rising prices of goods and services since the outbreak of war.

In contrast, the Trump administration maintains its position that military operations against Iran are necessary to protect U.S. national security, asserting that the primary goal of the war is to prevent the Islamic Republic from acquiring nuclear weapons.