Congress Challenges Trump’s Iran War Powers as Tensions Flare

The Israel-Iran conflict has entered its fifth day, casting a shadow over Washington as Democratic lawmakers, led by Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, move to curb President Donald Trump’s authority to wage war against Iran without congressional approval. With U.S. stealth fighters deployed to the region and Trump’s rhetoric veering between diplomacy and threats, the push to reassert legislative oversight reflects a deeper anxiety: Could the United States be sliding toward another Middle East quagmire?

A Region on Edge

Israel’s Operation Rising Lion, launched on June 13, 2025, struck over 100 Iranian targets, including the Natanz nuclear facility, missile production sites, and air defense systems. The attacks, which killed senior Revolutionary Guards commander Gen. Hossein Salami and nuclear scientists, crippled Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, with the International Atomic Energy Agency confirming severe damage to Natanz’s 15,000 centrifuges. Iran retaliated with missile strikes on Tel Aviv and Haifa, killing at least eight Israelis, while reporting over 224 deaths, mostly civilians, on its soil. The underground Fordo facility, however, remains largely unscathed, fueling speculation about further Israeli or U.S. action.

In response, the U.S. bolstered its regional presence, deploying 12 F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II jets, supported by 30 KC-135 and KC-46 tankers, to bases like Al-Udeid in Qatar, as reported by The Aviationist on June 17. The USS Nimitz, carrying F-35Cs and F/A-18s, is en route to join the USS Abraham Lincoln, signaling a formidable U.S. posture. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth insists these moves are defensive, aimed at deterring Iranian retaliation against U.S. assets or allies.

Trump’s High-Stakes Gamble

President Trump’s response has been a study in contradiction. Today, he posted on Truth Social, claiming Israel’s strikes eliminated Iranian hardliners and warning of “more brutal” attacks unless Iran agrees to a nuclear deal. Yet he also expressed hope for talks scheduled for June 22 in Oman, despite their cancellation two days earlier due to the Israeli offensive.

Trump’s insistence that “Iran can not have a nuclear weapon,” reiterated in a 35-post X thread from the White House, aligns with his February 2025 “maximum pressure” policy, which seeks to eliminate Iran’s uranium enrichment through sanctions and military threats. However, his acknowledgment of Israel’s strikes, which he told Reuters he knew about in advance, has muddled his diplomatic overtures.

Congress Steps In

Enter Senator Tim Kaine, whose war powers resolution, introduced on June 16, invokes the 1973 War Powers Act to demand congressional authorization for any U.S. military action against Iran. “The American people have no appetite for another endless war,” Kaine declared, echoing sentiments from progressive Democrats like Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. Sanders accused Israel of sabotaging U.S.-Iran talks, while Senator Chris Murphy labeled the strikes a “reckless escalation.” The resolution, privileged for a Senate vote, faces a steep climb in the Republican-controlled Congress, where loyalty to Trump and support for Israel run deep.

This is not Kaine’s first stand. In 2020, he spearheaded a similar resolution after Trump ordered the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, a move that passed both chambers but was vetoed. Today’s effort reflects a broader Democratic push to reclaim Congress’s constitutional war-making authority, especially given Trump’s history of unilateral action. A University of Maryland poll from May 2025 shows only 14% of Americans support military strikes on Iran’s nuclear program, with 69% favoring diplomacy, lending weight to Kaine’s case.

A Fractured Republican Response

Republicans are divided. Hawks like Senator Lindsey Graham urge Trump to “go all in” on Iran’s nuclear program, advocating for U.S. bombs or joint airstrikes with Israel. Conversely, “America First” Republicans like Senator Rand Paul and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene oppose entanglement, with Paul stating on NBC’s Meet the Press that “this isn’t our war.” A Pew Research Center survey reveals 50% of Republicans under 50 view Israel unfavorably, highlighting a generational split within Trump’s base. This fracture complicates Kaine’s resolution, which needs bipartisan support to overcome a likely Trump veto.

The Netanyahu Factor

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has warned of Iran’s nuclear threat since 1992, justified the strikes as essential to prevent Iran from building a bomb within “a year or months.” The operation, launched days before U.S.-Iran talks, has drawn Democratic criticism for undermining diplomacy. Senator Murphy suggested Netanyahu aimed to derail negotiations to bolster his domestic standing, weakened since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Trump’s shift from urging restraint to tacitly endorsing the strikes, following a June 16 briefing from Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, underscores the complex U.S.-Israel dynamic.

Iran’s Calculus

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has called for a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, claiming one call from Washington could “muzzle” Netanyahu. Yet Iran’s parliament is debating withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, a move that could accelerate its nuclear ambitions. The IAEA’s June 12 report of Iran’s 400 kg stockpile of 60% enriched uranium, enough for multiple bombs if further processed, has heightened fears. Iran’s missile strikes, bypassing Israeli defenses, signal its capacity to escalate, potentially targeting U.S. bases.

A Defining Moment

Kaine’s resolution, though unlikely to pass, forces a critical debate about America’s role in a volatile region. With U.S. jets patrolling Middle Eastern skies and Iran vowing retaliation, the risk of miscalculation looms large. Trump’s balancing act, threatening Iran while chasing a deal, faces mounting scrutiny, as does his alignment with Israel’s aggressive stance.

As Congress grapples with its constitutional duty, the nation watches, wary of being drawn into another costly conflict. The next few days will test whether diplomacy can prevail or if the drums of war grow louder.