Washington — The House of Representatives is preparing to vote Wednesday on whether to suspend US military action against Iranpotentially challenging President Donald Trump At a time when a handful of Republicans are signaling their willingness to join with Democrats to end the three-month-old war that has reordered politics at home and abroad.
House Speaker Mike Johnson He tried to prevent an outcome that would demonstrate growing opposition to the war, Turn off the floor suddenly Two weeks ago when the War Powers Resolution was about to be approved. But discontent is growing as the conflict continues and with the emergence of Trump Struggling to negotiate Quick solution.
He added: “This reckless and costly war must end today.” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries New York said at the beginning of the week.
“All we need is a handful of Republicans to join us, and we can end this reckless and expensive war — one that has cost American taxpayers more than $100 billion — that is extraordinary — and has left our country in a weaker position compared to Iran.”
This is the fourth time that the House of Representatives has tried to curb the American war against Iran. the Senate advance Its War Powers Resolution last month when a handful of GOP senators broke with the Republican president on an issue A rare display of political decline From his party.
Each time Democrats pushed the war powers resolution, the vote numbers rose as political unease about the American war grew. Trump campaigned to reach the White House on a promise to end American entanglements abroad and focus more on domestic issues, but the war turned attention once again to the Middle East.
Johnson insisted that Trump remains focused on the home front, especially ahead of the midterm elections that will determine control of Congress.
The spokesman said he spent three hours at the White House with the president this week as Trump calls on allies to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz to trade, especially the flow of oil.
Since the United States joined Israel in launching strikes on Iran on February 28, Americans have witnessed this Gas prices rise In pumps, in addition Inflationary pressure on consumer spending.
Iran was able to cut off shipping via… Strait of HormuzIt is a vital channel for a large segment of the world’s oil, natural gas and related products such as fertilizers.
“We’re working on that final piece,” said Johnson, the Los Angeles Republican. “The entire world has an interest in reopening the Strait of Hormuz to trade. And that is what it is working on.”
Although a ceasefire in the conflict was declared in April, it remains unstable and uncertain. Talks for a more sustainable end to the fighting have faltered, further complicated by Israel’s widening war with Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon. Meanwhile, military strikes continue between the United States and Iran.
The House resolution on war powers would not immediately stop the war, but it would provide a symbolic, if not legal, step against further military action.
If approved, it would then be sent to the Senate, where four Republican senators last month joined Democrats in introducing a similar measure to limit the US campaign against Iran. The Senate has not yet taken a final vote to approve or reject its war powers resolution.
This is not the only national security action Congress is taking, as Democrats, who are in the minority, are working to erode Republican support for measures beyond the war against Iran.
The House is also voting Wednesday on another Democratic-led effort that would authorize U.S. support for military operations in Ukraine as it fights Russia and to help rebuild the war-torn country. This week, the House of Representatives is also expected to consider a resolution on war powers to prevent US action in Lebanon.
While Congress has the power to declare war under the Constitution, the president also has the power as commander-in-chief to engage in military action, creating a legal dispute over which branch of government has the final say on matters of war and peace.
Under the War Powers Act, the White House has a 60-day window to obtain congressional approval for military action. However, the administration noted that due to the declaration of a ceasefire in the current conflict in Iran, hostilities have ceased.