Senator Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia, is leading a push to curb President Trump’s authority to use U.S. forces to engage in hostilities against Iran, as the war between Israel and Iran raises fears of American entanglement in a broader conflict.
A resolution Mr. Kaine introduced Monday would require explicit congressional authorization or a formal declaration of war before U.S. forces could take direct action against Iran. It faces long odds on Capitol Hill given Republicans’ reluctance to challenge Mr. Trump’s power, but it could prompt a vibrant debate as lawmakers in both parties warn against involving the United States in the escalating conflict.
The measure is a direct invocation of the War Powers Resolution, a 1973 federal law intended to be a check on the president’s power to enter an armed conflict without the consent of Congress. While it would still allow Mr. Trump to authorize military action in self-defense in the event of an imminent attack, it would compel him to seek approval before carrying out any offensive operations against Iran.
“It is not in our national security interest to get into a war with Iran unless that war is absolutely necessary to defend the United States,” Mr. Kaine said in a statement announcing the resolution. “I am deeply concerned that the recent escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran could quickly pull the United States into another endless conflict.”
Since Mr. Trump returned to office in January, Mr. Kaine has led a number of efforts to reassert congressional authority and reclaim power from the executive branch, whether by challenging presidential power over tariffs or scrutinizing U.S. military support for countries with troubling human rights records.
His latest effort reflects growing concern among some on Capitol Hill about the risk of being dragged into a regional war without public debate or legislative approval, though some lawmakers have expressed a willingness to lend additional military support to Israel if tensions with Iran continue to escalate.
Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina and an outspoken hawk on Iran, said that if a diplomatic solution was not possible that he would urge President Trump to go “all in” against Iran and its nuclear program.
“If that means providing bombs, provide bombs” “Mr. Graham said during an interview on CBS Face The Nation on Sunday. “If that means flying with Israel, fly with Israel.”
A number of senators, both Democrats and Republicans, have issued stark warnings to Iran not to strike at American interests, including troops or military installations.
“The message to the ayatollah is: ‘The United States has troops, facilities, and civilians in the region. Do not attack them. That is our red line. If you go there, all bets are off,” Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, the Republican majority whip, said during a Fox News interview on Sunday.
When asked how the U.S. might respond if Iran crossed that red line, Mr. Barrasso said only that “the president has lots of options and incredible capacity.” He did not address whether Congress should be consulted before any military escalation beyond self-defense.
Mr. Kaine’s resolution comes on the heels of Israel’s strike on Iranian nuclear infrastructure, a move that Israeli officials described as a necessary act of pre-emption. A number of U.S. lawmakers, including many Democrats, have supported Israel’s right to act, citing a recent U.N. report that found Iran had violated previously agreed-upon limits on uranium enrichment.
But some lawmakers in both parties have urged de-escalation, including a contingent of far-right Republicans aligned with Mr. Trump’s “America First” philosophy who argue the United States should not entangle itself in a foreign conflict.
Still, it remains unclear whether Mr. Kaine’s resolution will gain Republican support. G.O.P. lawmakers have been reluctant to challenge or limit Mr. Trump’s powers. Whether this flashpoint becomes the issue that breaks that pattern may depend on how close the U.S. comes to the brink of war.
The post Democrat Seeks to Limit Trump’s War Powers Amid Middle East Escalation appeared first on New York Times.
