Several US lawmakers said President Donald Trump will need a sign-off from Congress to use military force against Iran.
Thomas Massie, a Republican House member from Kentucky, said he would introduce a war powers resolution on Tuesday “to prohibit our involvement”.
Massie wrote on X: “This is not our war. But if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our constitution.”
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the progressive Democratic congresswoman from New York, replied: “Signing on.”
Tim Kaine, a Democratic senator from Virginia, separately introduced a war powers resolution in the Senate on Monday.
Vermont senator Bernie Sanders also introduced legislation on Monday that would prohibit the “use of federal funds for any use of military force in or against Iran” without the authorisation of Congress.
It remains unlikely that any of the measures will garner support from the majority of lawmakers, given the Republicans’ control of both chambers of Congress and Trump’s grip on his party.
But debates on the issue are likely to expose sharp divides on Capitol Hill, including between the more hawkish and isolationist elements of Trump’s party.
