US Senate blocks measure to limit Trump's war powers against Iran

WASHINGTON, United States — WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate on Tuesday blocked a resolution that would have restricted President Donald Trump's authority to use military force against Iran, with the measure falling short of the votes needed to advance to a final floor vote. The 51-49 procedural vote keeps the war powers resolution bottled up in the Senate, despite its earlier passage in the House of Representatives, where it was approved 215-208. The procedural motion required 60 votes to move forward; 48 senators voted against advancing the resolution, including Democrat John Fetterman, while 47 voted in favor, according to the roll call. The four Republicans who joined Democrats in supporting the resolution were Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Rand Paul. The measure, introduced by Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock, would have required the withdrawal of U.S. forces from or against Iran in operations not authorized by Congress. The Trump administration strongly opposed the resolution, calling it "unpatriotic" and built on a false premise. Trump has said he would issue an immediate presidential veto if both chambers of Congress approved the measure.