The US Senate has rejected a Democratic proposal aimed at preventing United States President Donald Trump from using military force against Iran without Congressional approval.
The Senate, in which Republicans have a majority, voted 47 to 53 on a war powers resolution, which would require the president to seek congressional approval for further military action against Iran, Hina reports.
The vote was largely split along party lines, with the exception of Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman, who voted against, and Kentucky Republican Rand Paul, who voted for the resolution.
Senator Tim Kaine, the main sponsor of the resolution, has been trying for years to restore the constitutional authority to declare war to Congress, regardless of whether the House is led by a Republican or a Democrat.
Kaine said his latest effort emphasizes how the U.S. Constitution clearly gives Congress, not the president, the exclusive right to declare war, and that any hostilities with Iran must be expressly authorized by a declaration of war, or a special authorization for the use of military force.
"If you think the president needs to come before Congress, whether you're for or against war with Iran, you'll support the resolution, you'll support the Constitution that has stood the test of time," Kaine said in a speech before the vote.
The lawmakers sought more information about the US attacks on Iran last weekend, as well as the fate of Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Opponents of the resolution argued that it was a limited operation consistent with the president's powers as commander-in-chief, and not the start of a longer military conflict.
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