US House votes to curb Trump's Iran war powers as president claims peace deal is near

A rare bipartisan rebuke

The US House of Representatives passed a war powers resolution on Wednesday, voting 215 to 208 to direct President Donald Trump to withdraw American forces from Iran or obtain congressional authorisation to continue military operations. Four Republican lawmakers joined Democrats to pass the measure, which now heads to the Senate. The vote represents the fourth attempt in the chamber to rein in the president's war-making authority since the conflict began, the previous three having failed.

It is time to end this reckless and costly war.

House Speaker Mike Johnson had tried to block the vote, abruptly cutting off debate two weeks ago. Democratic leaders pressed forward, and several Republican absences on Wednesday prevented party leadership from delaying the vote any longer. Representative Jared Golden, a Maine Democrat who had previously sided with Republicans on similar measures, flipped and voted with his party.

Senate path and a near-certain veto

The resolution now moves to the Senate, where a similar measure cleared a key procedural hurdle in late May with support from four Republican senators. The upper chamber had rejected seven other such resolutions, but unease within Republican ranks has grown as the conflict approaches its 100th day on Saturday.

Even if both chambers pass the resolution, Trump has repeatedly signalled he would veto any attempt to constrain his war powers, calling such efforts unconstitutional. Overriding a veto would require a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate, a threshold widely seen as impossible given the current composition of Congress.

A strong and unequivocal message to Donald Trump from the American people.

Trump claims a deal is close

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said Iran is "very close" to signing a peace agreement with the United States. "It could happen over the weekend," he added, setting yet another deadline. When asked whether the ceasefire was still in effect, Trump gave an opaque response: "There is a reason for certain things, and it is usually a reason that makes sense."

His remarks came amid reports of renewed hostilities. Iranian forces claimed missile and drone strikes against American military targets in the region, including the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, which they said were retaliation for US raids on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.

Constitutional clash over war powers

Under the US Constitution, only Congress has the power to declare war. While the president may initiate hostilities to respond to an imminent threat, the law requires congressional authorisation within 60 days. Trump launched the joint US-Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28 without prior legislative approval. In early May, he bypassed the 60-day deadline by arguing the conflict had ended due to an ongoing ceasefire.

Democrats contest that reasoning, noting that American forces remain engaged in enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports. The resolution's backers aim to reassert legislative authority over war-making decisions, framing the vote as a constitutional check on executive power.

Escalation in the Gulf

The congressional vote unfolded against a backdrop of rising military tension. A drone attack on Kuwait's airport left one person dead and several injured, according to reports. US military officials confirmed counter-strikes following the Iranian attacks on Gulf targets. The exchange of fire has complicated diplomatic efforts even as Trump insists a negotiated settlement is within reach.