WASHINGTON, Jun 18 (Alliance News): As the Israel-Iran conflict intensifies, US lawmakers from both parties are moving swiftly to prevent former President Donald Trump from launching military action against Iran without congressional approval, seeking to avoid a broader Middle East war.
The legislative move comes amid growing US military activity in the region, including the deployment of F-16, F-22, and F-35 fighter jets and the extension of current missions. According to US officials, these reinforcements aim to deter further escalation and protect American interests in the Middle East.
Reports from Axios revealed that Israel has urged Washington over the past two days to join its military operations against Iran. However, US officials have reportedly declined to engage directly at this stage, despite rising hostilities.
Israel launched its offensive claiming Iran was on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons. The strikes reportedly killed most of Iran’s top military brass and several key nuclear scientists.
In response, Iran has fired around 400 ballistic missiles and launched hundreds of drones, resulting in over 20 Israeli casualties. The Israeli military claims to have seized control of Iranian airspace and vowed to escalate operations further.
Trump has suggested that Iran could end the crisis by accepting US demands for strict limitations on its nuclear programme.
Tehran, a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), denies pursuing nuclear weapons and maintains its right to peaceful nuclear development.
Israel, which is not a signatory to the NPT, is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, although it neither confirms nor denies this.
Concerned about the risk of an unapproved military confrontation, Representative Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) introduced a bill in the House requiring the president to seek congressional authorization before initiating any military action against Iran.
The legislation also mandates halting any current operations not approved by Congress.
In the Senate, Senator Tim Kaine (D-Virginia), a consistent advocate for congressional war-making authority, introduced a parallel resolution.
“Only Congress has the power to declare war,” Kaine said. “It is not in our national security interest to get into a war with Iran unless it is absolutely necessary to defend the United States.”
Senator Bernie Sanders echoed this, accusing Israel of attempting to derail nuclear diplomacy by launching provocative attacks on Iran. “There can be no offensive use of military force — against Iran or any other country — without explicit authorization from Congress,” Sanders stated.
Senator Rand Paul warned against unnecessary entanglement, saying, “It’s not the US’ job to be involved in this war.” Representative Massie reiterated the sentiment on social media, declaring, “This is not our war.”
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar also voiced opposition, writing on X: “No one is attacking or has attacked Americans. It’s time to stop dragging Americans into war and letting Israel once again get America involved in their chosen war. Stand up for the Americans who believed you wanted peace and don’t commit another generation of Americans into a costly war..
