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The Republican-led US House of Representatives approved a resolution to block President Donald Trump from taking further military action in Iran, reflecting growing concern among members of his party about the three-month-old conflict.
The 215-208 vote, which is largely symbolic, succeeded after four Republicans joined Democrats in expressing disapproval of the war, which began on February 28.
The war powers resolution directs Trump to withdraw US troops from Iran unless Congress declares war or authorizes the use of military force.
It was the latest setback for Trump in Congress, despite his party’s slim majorities in both the House and the Senate.
The vote was to adopt the war powers resolution, which requires Trump to withdraw US forces or seek congressional approval for the conflict.
The White House has dismissed the merits of the resolution, saying it is an unconstitutional attempt to restrict presidential power.
But its passage is significant because it adds to the pressure on the White House to bring an end to the Iran war, as petrol prices have spiked and public opposition to the war has increased.
This was the fourth attempt by the House to rein in Trump’s war powers. The Senate advanced a similar resolution in May but has yet to hold a full floor vote.
The measure considered on Wednesday was a concurrent resolution. If it is also passed by the Republican-controlled US Senate, it would not require the president’s signature, though it could still be subject to a legal challenge.
The vote marked the latest sign of division within Trump’s Republican Party, coming just days after a revolt by conservatives in Congress led his administration to pull back plans for a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund for political allies.
The vote nonetheless reflects unease among some Republicans over Trump’s handling of the conflict and marks a rare bipartisan effort to curb presidential war powers, as the war has entered its fourth month.
Three previous war powers resolutions had failed in the House by increasingly slim margins, and the chamber’s Republican leaders abruptly postponed a vote on this one last month when it appeared likely to pass.
The Senate advanced a separate but similar resolution last month in a procedural vote, after seven previous attempts had failed. Further votes on the Senate measure have not yet been scheduled.
The four House Republicans who voted for the war powers resolution were Representatives Tom Barrett of Michigan, Warren Davidson of Ohio, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, and Thomas Massie of Kentucky.
They warned that Trump may have pulled the country into a long conflict without setting out a clear strategy and also raised concerns over higher prices for gasoline, food, and other products since the joint US-Israeli air strikes on Iran began on February 28.
“The passage of this WPR today signals a significant turning point: more and more Republicans are listening to their constituents who do not want another open-ended war in the Middle East,” Representative Gregory Meeks, who sponsored the war powers resolution and serves as ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement after the vote.
No Democrats voted against it. Seven House members did not vote.
“It’s very powerful,” said Jared Huffman. “We’re inching closer to having both chambers of Congress declare this an illegal war. That’s huge.
“It’s just becoming more and more untenable what he has done,” he added.
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