Washington: Amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran, Democratic Senator Tim Kaine has introduced new legislation aimed at restricting President Donald Trump from initiating military action against Iran without explicit approval from Congress.
Kaine, a longtime advocate for reasserting Congress's constitutional authority over war powers, emphasized that the U.S. Constitution clearly reserves the right to declare war to Congress, not the president. The move comes as concerns grow that the U.S. could be drawn into an escalating regional conflict.
“Engaging in war with Iran should only happen if it is absolutely vital to protect the United States,” Kaine said in a statement. “Given the increasing hostilities between Israel and Iran, we must act now to ensure America is not pulled into another prolonged conflict.”
Kaine previously introduced a similar resolution in 2020 during Trump's first term. That measure passed both the House and Senate — with bipartisan backing — but ultimately failed to overcome a presidential veto.
The current resolution, filed under the War Powers Act, is considered a "privileged" measure, which requires prompt Senate consideration and a vote.
Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont aligned with the Democrats, also voiced alarm at the unfolding crisis. He accused Israel of launching its strikes to derail nuclear negotiations with Iran, originally set for Sunday. Sanders reiterated that military force cannot be used without clear congressional authorization.
Republican lawmakers are divided. Some, like Senators Rand Paul and Representative Thomas Massie, urged the U.S. to avoid involvement in the conflict.
“This is not America’s war,” Paul stated during an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, while Massie wrote on social media that the U.S. should not deploy troops or resources to the region.
However, many Republicans in Congress have aligned with Trump and expressed strong support for Israel’s campaign against Iran. Senator Lindsey Graham called on the U.S. to back Israel militarily if diplomatic efforts fail, suggesting that American forces might need to join Israeli operations if necessary.
Tensions spiked on Friday when Israel launched military strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure. Iran retaliated with missile attacks on Israeli territory, asserting its nuclear ambitions are strictly peaceful.
Both sides have continued to exchange attacks, causing civilian casualties and prompting international concern. Leaders gathering in Canada this week warned that the Israel-Iran conflict could spiral into a much larger regional war.
While Trump has praised Israel’s military campaign, he has denied Iran’s accusations that the U.S. is directly involved and warned Tehran not to strike American assets.
