US Senate rejects war powers bill to halt attacks against Iran

Republicans in the US Senate have voted down an effort to halt the Trump administration’s war against Iran, demonstrating early support for a conflict that has rapidly spread across the Middle East with no clear US exit strategy.

The legislation, known as a war powers resolution, failed on a 47-53 vote tally. The vote fell mostly along party lines, though Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky voted in favor and Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voted against.

The war powers resolution gave lawmakers an opportunity to demand congressional approval before any further attacks are carried out. The vote forced them to take a stand on a war shaping the fate of US military members, countless other lives and the future of the region.

Senator Susan Collins explains her opposition war powers resolution

Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine said she opposed the war powers resolution. Collins said in a statement that it’s important for lawmakers to back the US military because of the threat poses by a nuclear Iran.

“We cannot tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran. The Iranian regime’s pursuit of nuclear capabilities, ballistic missile development, and support for terrorist proxies pose serious and longstanding threats to the national security of the United States and our allies,” Collins said.