Trump Gets Green Light to Attack Iran After Senate Vote
In a decisive vote reflecting deep political division in Washington, the U.S. Senate has given President Donald Trump a strong boost to continue his military campaign against Iran, after Republicans voted to block a resolution aimed at restricting his military powers and requiring him to obtain congressional authorization before any new military action.
* 53 Votes Favor Trump
The Senate voted by a majority of 53 to 47 against proceeding with the resolution put forward by Democrats and a limited number of Republicans.
The measure sought to halt ongoing military operations against Iran and affirm that declarations of war are exclusively the prerogative of Congress under the U.S. Constitution.
Supporters of the resolution argued that the step was necessary to restore Congress's constitutional role in overseeing the deployment of U.S. forces abroad, especially in light of escalating military operations.
In contrast, opposing Republicans emphasized that Trump's actions are legal and fall within his powers as Commander-in-Chief, asserting that the strikes are "limited" and aimed at protecting U.S. interests.
They also accused supporters of the resolution of undermining the safety of U.S. troops and putting them at risk.
* Risch: Not an Endless War
In a notable intervention, Republican Senator Jim Risch, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated that what is happening "is not an endless war, nor is it even close to that," adding that operations "will end very quickly."
* Political Battle Not Over
Despite the failure of the resolution, its supporters affirmed they would not back down from their efforts;
indeed, some Republicans who voted to block the resolution expressed readiness to call for public hearings with Trump administration officials to present the U.S. strategy towards Iran, especially if the confrontation drags on for weeks as Trump hinted.
* Public Opinion Divided
This comes at a time when a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that only one in four Americans supports U.S. strikes on Iran, while nearly half of respondents believe that Trump is heavily inclined to use military force.
* November Calculations
As the midterm elections in November approach, and with the possibility of Congress shifting control to the Democrats, the prolonged war with Iran could become a significant political pressure point, raising concerns among voters and reigniting the debate over the limits of presidential powers in using military force.
With clear Republican support and rising Democratic reservations, the confrontation with Iran seems poised to remain at the center of American political discourse in the coming months, testing the balance of powers in Washington.
