In a significant development from Washington, DC, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine has introduced a bill aimed at requiring President Donald Trump to seek congressional authorization before launching any military strikes against Iran.
This legislative move emerges amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, prompting heightened calls from pro-Israel factions for the United States to support an Israeli bombing campaign against Iran.
Senator Kaine expressed deep concerns regarding the potential for these hostilities to entangle the U.S. in another prolonged conflict.
‘The American people have no interest in sending service-members to fight another forever war in the Middle East,’ he stated. ‘This resolution will ensure that if we decide to place our nation’s men and women in uniform into harm’s way, we will have a debate and vote on it in Congress.’
The bill draws upon the War Powers Resolution of 1973, a legislative act designed to limit the president’s unilateral military actions. The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war; however, many recent presidents have leveraged their command authority to engage in military operations without explicit congressional consent.
Kaine’s proposal aligns with a broader movement led by antiwar advocates across both major political parties, amplifying pressure on Trump regarding potential military actions against Iran.
Hassan El-Tayyab, the legislative director for Middle East policy at the Friends Committee on National Legislation, emphasized that the bill challenges Trump’s ability to act unilaterally and reassures critics that the U.S. will not provide unchecked support to Israeli military actions.
‘It could also gauge the level of opposition to war with Iran in Congress, especially among Republicans,’ he noted, highlighting that a faction of right-leaning lawmakers has been cautioning Trump against unnecessary foreign conflicts.
Despite President Trump’s Republican Party controlling both chambers of Congress, there could be bipartisan support for the resolution if conservative members who oppose intervention rally to back it.
For the bill to become law, it must pass the Senate and House of Representatives and receive the president’s signature, which is likely to be withheld by Trump. However, Congress retains the authority to override a presidential veto with two-thirds approval from both the House and the Senate.
During his initial term, President Trump successfully vetoed two resolutions aimed at limiting his war-making powers, including a 2020 initiative championed by Kaine to restrict his ability to attack Iran.
El-Tayyab remarked that the previous resolution served as a warning to Trump against escalating military actions following the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, and the current measure might similarly deter further actions.
‘Even if it passes and Trump vetoes it, it still sends a de-escalatory signal, and it reminds the administration that only Congress can declare war,’ he remarked.
Trump has not dismissed the possibility of U.S. strikes against Iran, stating, ‘We’re not involved in it. It’s possible we could get involved,’ during an appearance on ABC News. Meanwhile, he has also advocated for the conclusion of the ongoing conflict.
Israel has intensified its military campaign against Iran, targeting various military and nuclear infrastructures, which has resulted in numerous casualties, including both military personnel and civilians.
This bombing campaign comes just before the sixth round of nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran set to occur in Oman.
In response, Iran has launched hundreds of ballistic missiles, with reports indicating that many have breached Israeli air defenses, inflicting extensive damage.
As the conflict escalates, some hawkish figures within the U.S. are urging President Trump to fully back Israel, arguing that the U.S. has the military capabilities that could significantly enhance the effectiveness of operations aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear program.
The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board asserted, ‘The U.S. has the bombers to carry deep-penetrating bombs that Israeli jets can’t. This will be a missed opportunity if some of Iran’s uranium enrichment capacity survives when U.S. participation could have made a difference.’
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham echoed similar sentiments, urging for a comprehensive U.S. commitment to aid Israel.
Conversely, an array of U.S. lawmakers has voiced apprehension regarding American involvement, echoing concerns that such actions could spiral into another intricate war. Trump has framed his past campaign as one focused on peace, criticizing his opponents as warmongers.
Right-wing Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene highlighted widespread public fatigue regarding foreign wars, asserting that Americans are ‘sick and tired of foreign wars.’
‘We have spent TRILLIONS in the Middle East and we have dealt with the aftermath of death, blown apart bodies, never-ending suicides, and disabling PTSD,’ Greene commented through social media. ‘All because they told us propaganda as to why we must sacrifice our own to defend some other country’s borders.’
Some congressional representatives have underscored the legality of declaring war, asserting that any military action against Iran would require congressional approval. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib stated, ‘The president cannot circumvent congressional war powers and unilaterally send U.S. troops to war with Iran.’
This sentiment is echoed by a broader public desire to avoid another protracted conflict in the Middle East, one that could lead to loss of life and destabilization of families nationwide.
Expressing support for Kaine’s proposed legislation, advocacy groups have reiterated a call for Congress to reclaim its constitutional authority regarding war powers.
Raed Jarrar, advocacy director at Democracy for the Arab World Now, remarked, ‘This is a critical moment for Congress to step in and exercise its constitutional authority to prevent the U.S. from being dragged into another war.’
Democratic and Republican members are being called upon to unite in rejecting any U.S. involvement in what many describe as a potential ‘devastating regional war.’
As the situation remains fluid, Israel continues to warn of the dangers posed by Iran’s nuclear ambitions, framing its strikes as defensive measures to thwart Iranian nuclear capabilities, while Iran insists that it has not provoked the conflict, citing violations of international law by Israel’s actions.
image source from：https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/16/us-senator-introduces-bill-to-curb-trumps-power-to-go-to-war-with-iran
