ARAB AND WORLD

Thu 04 Jun 2026 1:22 pm - Jerusalem Time

In a historic move, the US House of Representatives votes to restrict military action against Iran

The US House of Representatives set a historic precedent by passing a resolution explicitly calling for a halt to military action against Iran, a move observers considered a direct rebuke to the war policies pursued by President Donald Trump's administration. This move reflects a growing tension within Congress regarding the executive branch's right to unilaterally make decisions of war and peace, away from legislative oversight.

The voting results showed a sharp division, with the resolution passing by a majority of 215 votes to 208 against. The session witnessed a notable breakthrough within the Republican Party after four representatives joined the Democratic bloc. These representatives, Thomas Massie, Brian Fitzpatrick, Tom Barrett, and Warren Davidson, broke party lines to support restricting the president's military powers in the Iranian file.

These developments come at a sensitive time when Washington is witnessing a deep constitutional debate about the scope of the White House's powers in managing external military operations. Lawmakers from both parties are demanding the necessity of establishing controls to prevent a slide into large-scale armed conflicts without obtaining prior and clear authorization from the legislative authority, especially in light of the mutual threats with Tehran.

On another front, the Senate made progress in a parallel legislative path related to the financial settlement bill, where the majority voted 53 to 46 to move forward with discussions. This week is expected to see a series of open votes on amendments to the bill, which primarily aims to secure the necessary funding for US immigration agencies.

In internal electoral affairs, the Iowa primary elections sparked a major surprise with Republican Representative Randall Feenstra's loss to businessman Zach Lahn in the gubernatorial race. The importance of this result lies in the fact that Feenstra had direct and strong support from President Donald Trump, raising questions about the extent of Trump's influence on party bases.

The Democratic Party also made additional gains in Iowa, where Representative Josh Turk secured a comfortable victory over his progressive opponent, Senator Zach Wahls. This victory boosts Democrats' hopes of potentially shifting the balance of power in the Senate during the upcoming general elections, by snatching seats historically counted on the other side.

As for California, uncertainty still hangs over the results of major races, including the state governor and Los Angeles mayor, with reports indicating that vote counting may take several days. However, current Mayor Karen Bass's qualification for the runoff in the mayoral race has been confirmed, amidst anticipation of the final results in this pivotal state.

This vote reflects the escalating division within Congress regarding the administration's powers to use military force without clear authorization.

Tags

Share your opinion

In a historic move, the US House of Representatives votes to restrict military action against Iran

Newsletter

Be the first to know the most important breaking news as it happens.

Stay up to date with the latest news. Subscribe to our breaking news service delivered to your inbox daily.

By subscribing, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.