Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has introduced a bill in the House of Representatives aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s power to launch military action against Iran.
The proposed legislation would require the US president to obtain congressional approval before ordering any offensive operations against the Islamic Republic. It further mandates the administration to "terminate" any ongoing military actions against Iran not explicitly authorised by Congress.
The move comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following recent escalations between Washington and Tehran. Massie, a known libertarian-leaning Republican, said the measure is intended to restore Congress’s constitutional authority to declare war.
“A president should not unilaterally take the nation into war without the consent of the people's representatives,” Massie said in a statement.
A companion measure was introduced in the Senate on Monday, reflecting growing bipartisan concern over the administration’s Iran policy. While the bills may not survive a presidential veto, advocates hope the legislative push will exert pressure on the White House to exercise restraint.
“Even if the bill doesn’t become law, it sends a strong signal that the people’s representatives are unwilling to cede this critical power to the executive,” said one congressional aide familiar with the discussions.
The White House has not yet commented on the proposed legislation. However, officials have previously defended the administration’s authority to act militarily in “self-defence” of US personnel and interests in the region.
