US Senate narrowly votes against pull troops in Iran war

The United States Senate on Wednesday narrowly rejected a resolution seeking to order the withdrawal of forces involved in the war with Iran, as the Republican majority opposed limiting President Donald Trump’s military powers.

The measure, like other resolutions introduced by the Democratic opposition in recent weeks, received 49 votes in favor, including support from three Republican senators, and 50 votes against.

For the first time since the start of the war, Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski voted in favor of calling for the withdrawal of US forces from the conflict with Iran.

Murkowski told Punchbowl News after the vote: “We believed we would receive more clarity from the government regarding our position in the conflict, and I did not receive any clarification.”

The United States Constitution grants US Congress sole authority to declare war, prompting Democrats to seek to reassert the legislative branch’s powers on the issue in the face of executive authority represented by Trump.

While US law allows the president to initiate hostilities in response to an imminent threat, it requires congressional authorization within 60 days.

However, in early May, Trump dismissed that deadline, arguing that the conflict had effectively ended due to the ongoing ceasefire with Iran.

Democrats have challenged that justification, pointing to the continued deployment of US forces to enforce a blockade on Iranian ports.

Several Republican lawmakers had previously said they would demand that the administration seek congressional authorization after the 60-day period expired.

Still, despite support from three Republican senators, the resolution failed to secure enough votes for passage.