U.S. President Donald Trump’s fellow Republicans in the House of Representatives have blocked an attempt led by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to restrict presidential war powers over military action involving Iran.
The move took place during a brief procedural session on Thursday (9 April), when Republican Representative Chris Smith brought proceedings to an early close before Democrats could force a vote on a war powers resolution.
The proposed measure would have required congressional approval to continue U.S. military operations and effectively sought to halt current strikes linked to the Iran conflict.
Although largely symbolic, the decision underlines deep divisions in Washington over the limits of presidential authority in military action.
Democrats have repeatedly tried to pass resolutions to restrict Trump’s ability to launch or continue military operations without congressional consent, including actions involving Iran and Venezuela. So far, those efforts have been blocked.
Party leaders have said they intend to bring similar measures back for a vote once Congress returns from recess next week.
The dispute comes after Trump’s recent warning that Iran faced devastating consequences if it did not comply with U.S. demands, remarks that have drawn strong criticism from the Democrats.
Some lawmakers accused the president of dangerously escalating rhetoric, while others raised concerns about the legality and oversight of military action.
The White House has maintained that the operations are lawful and fall within the president’s authority as commander-in-chief, arguing they are necessary to protect U.S. national security.
Republicans, who hold narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress, have largely continued to support Trump’s foreign policy approach.
The conflict has also reignited broader constitutional questions about war powers, which are formally held by Congress but in practice often exercised by the president during limited or fast-moving military operations.
Democrats argue that recent actions go beyond those limits, while Republicans insist the president retains authority to respond to threats without immediate congressional approval.
The political divide has become sharper in recent weeks, with some Democrats even raising the prospect of impeachment or use of the 25th Amendment, though such moves remain unlikely to gain bipartisan support.
Democrats are also attempting to link the military debate to domestic economic concerns, arguing that conflict-related disruptions are driving up energy and food prices in the United States.
They say increased spending on military operations is also placing pressure on public services, while Republicans accuse them of politicising national security issues.
With Congress still in recess, further votes on war powers are expected when lawmakers return next week, ensuring the dispute over Trump’s military authority is set to continue.
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United Nations World Urban Forum 13 continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 19 May with sessions and roundtable discussions focused on strengthening dialogue and advancing cooperation in urban development. Organisers say there are nearly 3 billion people globally who face some form of housing inadequacy.
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Day four of the World Urban Forum (WUF) in Baku brings a packed agenda on sustainable cities and the global housing crisis, with sessions on green housing, smart cities, public spaces and urban rights taking place on Wednesday (20 May) at Baku Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan.
Pakistan has deployed around 8,000 troops, fighter jets and air defence systems to Saudi Arabia under a mutual defence agreement, according to security officials and government sources familiar with the arrangement.
Russia is considering the possibility of joint projects with the United States and China, Kirill Dmitriev, Head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, (Russia's sovereign wealth fund), was quoted as saying by state media on Wednesday.
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The red carpet had barely been rolled up after Donald Trump’s departure before Beijing was laying it out again. Vladimir Putin arrived in the Chinese capital on Wednesday for talks with Xi Jinping, just days after Trump’s own high-profile visit.
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The European Union has moved closer to implementing tariff cuts under last year’s U.S. trade agreement after negotiators agreed on a provisional legislative text.
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