US Senate backs Trump in war against Iran despite deadline lapse

(Patria) - US senators narrowly rejected a resolution limiting President Donald Trump's authority to wage war against Iran – their first vote on the conflict since the expiry of a 60-day deadline for the White House to seek formal approval, AFP reported.

The measure, introduced by Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley, was the seventh failed attempt by Democrats to curb Trump's war powers since the conflict began more than ten weeks ago. The vote count was 50-49.

Democrats say that under the War Powers Act, the administration had until May 1 to secure congressional approval for military action after Trump notified lawmakers of attacks on Iran in early March.

They say Trump is now acting in clear violation of the law. The administration disputes that interpretation, arguing that time was paused by a ceasefire declared more than a month ago.

"I think a lot of our colleagues are uncomfortable with their position, but they are also uncomfortable being on the wrong side of Trump," Merkley told reporters.

The legal and political clash has become a major test of Congress's authority over war powers more than fifty years after the law was passed in the wake of the Vietnam War.

While most Republicans continue to back Trump, some lawmakers saw the expiry of the 60-day deadline as a potential turning point in support for the conflict, which entered its 75th day amid rising costs and growing concerns about the US military's readiness.

Merkley said before the vote that the administration had "complicated" the issue by declaring the clock paused.

Despite the defeat, Democrats were encouraged by a slowly growing number of Republicans.

Three Trump-backing senators supported the resolution, one more than in a previous vote in April, giving the president the narrowest possible margin of victory, 50 votes to 49.

"They will have another chance to vote next week and the week after that," Democratic Senator Tim Kaine told reporters, vowing to keep Republicans on their toes.

"We will force this vote every week until the Senate says we should not be at war. And I truly believe that day is coming."

The War Powers Act has historically proven difficult to enforce, with courts generally reluctant to intervene in disputes between Congress and the White House over military action.

Even if the Senate were to pass the resolution, it would still face hurdles in the Republican-dominated House of Representatives and would likely be vetoed by Trump.