A Democrat senator introduced legislation on Monday to prevent . President Donald Trump from using military force against Iran without Congress' authorization, as an escalating battle between Israel and Iran raised fears of a broader conflict.
But most Trump supporters in the GOP are thought to be unlikely to back the Democrat's measure, which in a previous incarnation fell victim to insufficient Republican backing to override a presidential veto.
Tim Kaine of Virginia has tried for years to wrest back Congress's authority to declare war from the White House.
During Trump's first term, in 2020, Kaine introduced a similar resolution to rein in the Republican president's ability to wage war against Iran. That measure passed both the Senate and House of Representatives, with some Republican support, but did not garner enough votes to survive the president's veto.
Kaine said his latest war powers resolution underscores that the U.S. Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the sole power to declare war and requires that any hostility with Iran be explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for the use of military force.
"It is not in our national security interest to get into a war with Iran unless that war is absolutely necessary to defend the United States. I am deeply concerned that the recent escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran could quickly pull the United States into another endless conflict," Kaine said in a statement.
Under U.S. law, war powers resolutions are privileged, meaning that the Senate will be required to promptly consider and vote on the matter.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, accused Israel of timing its attack on Iran to sabotage talks on Iran's nuclear program that had been scheduled for Sunday.
He also said Washington should avoid the conflict.
"The U.S. Constitution is crystal clear: there can be no offensive use of military force — against Iran or any other country — without an explicit authorization from Congress," Sanders said in a statement.
MOST REPUBLICANS LIKELY TO BACK TRUMP
A few Republicans said the United States should avoid war. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said he hoped Trump would not give in to pressure to get involved. "It's not the U.S.' job to be involved in this war," Paul said on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday.
"This is not our war. We should not engage our military here," Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky said on X.
But most of Trump's fellow Republicans, who control Congress, have shown little appetite for opposing the president and are likely to back him if he decides to get more involved in the conflict.
Most Republicans also have been staunch advocates for providing military support to the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"If diplomacy fails... help Israel finish the job. Give them bombs, fly with them if necessary," Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said on CBS's "Face the Nation" on Sunday. .".. If you want to convince international terrorism we mean business, you've got to finish the job with Iran," he said.
Israel's military launched attacks on Iran on Friday with the stated aim of wiping out Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Iran, which says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, responded with missile attacks on Israel.
Both countries have kept up their attacks, killing and wounding civilians and raising concern among world leaders meeting in Canada this week that the biggest battle yet between the two old enemies could lead to a broader regional conflict.
Trump has lauded Israel's offensive, while denying Iranian allegations that the U.S. has taken part and warning Tehran not to widen its retaliation to include U.S. targets.
At the G7 summit in Canada on Monday, he pressed Iran to come to the table and negotiate a deal on its nuclear capacity before it's "too late."
Newsmax contributed to this report.
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