The United States House of Representatives has passed a resolution seeking to block President Donald Trump from taking further military action in Iran.
The measure passed on a 215–208 vote in what is largely a symbolic show of opposition to the war, which reportedly began in February. Four Republicans joined Democrats in backing the war powers resolution, which would require the president to withdraw U.S. forces or obtain congressional approval to continue the conflict.
The White House dismissed the resolution’s significance, arguing that it represents an unconstitutional attempt to limit presidential authority over military operations.
This marks the fourth effort by the House to curb Trump’s war powers. In May, the United States Senate advanced a similar measure, though it has yet to be brought to a full floor vote.
The latest measure, considered on Wednesday, is a concurrent resolution. Even if passed by the Republican-controlled Senate, it would not require the president’s signature, although it could face legal challenges over its enforceability.
In the House vote, Republicans Thomas Massie, Brian Fitzpatrick, Tom Barrett, and Warren Davidson broke ranks with their party to join Democrats in supporting the resolution. Democratic Representative Jared Golden of Maine, who had previously opposed similar efforts, also voted in favour this time.
“I vote my conscience for what I think is right and am willing to accept that,” Representative Tom Barrett said when asked whether he feared political repercussions from President Trump.
Gregory Meeks, the leading Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, described the vote as “a significant bipartisan rebuke of President Trump’s illegal and costly war in Iran and the first step toward ending it once and for all.”
