Democrats' resolution to rein in Trump’s Iran war powers fails in House for third time

WASHINGTON, DC: A Democrat-backed resolution aimed at forcing President Donald Trump to halt the US’s war against Iran immediately has collapsed in the House for the third time since the conflict erupted.

Thursday's vote on the resolution offered by Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-NJ, was 212-212, meaning it failed by one vote as it needed a simple majority to pass.

During the voting, three Republicans, Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, and Tom Barrett of Michigan crossed the aisle to support the resolution.

Meanwhile, Rep. Jared Golden of Maine was the sole Democrat to vote against it.

It is the third House vote this year on an Iran war powers resolution, and the first since the conflict crossed the 60-day deadline on May 1, requiring Trump to seek congressional approval for continued military action.

The previous war powers resolution narrowly collapsed on April 16 in a razor-thin 213-214 vote, with one lawmaker choosing to vote “present” instead of siding with either camp.

Democrats plan to keep forcing votes on the Iran war

Despite the third major loss, Democrats in both the House and Senate have vowed to keep bringing Iran war powers resolutions to the floor, betting that continued pressure could eventually convince more Republicans to break ranks and support limiting Trump’s military authority.

"There will be a day, and it might be soon, I believe, where this Senate will say to the president, 'stop this war,'" Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, said. "I believe that day is coming."

Kaine acknowledged that Congress is unlikely to override a potential presidential veto, a move that would require overwhelming two-thirds support, even if the Iran war powers resolution eventually reaches Trump’s desk.

Still, he argued that repeated votes and growing public scrutiny could pressure Trump politically and discourage him from escalating military action against Iran.

Later on Thursday, Gottheimer admitted that he wants to “crush the Iranian regime,” but criticized Trump’s go-it-alone approach and lack of consultation with Congress.

“I support the administration crushing the Iranian regime. I want to ensure we destroy their nuclear programs, their ballistic missile programs, their drone programs, and their terrorist proxy programs,” Gottheimer said ahead of the vote.

“But that said, you cannot leave the United States Congress in the dark any longer. You can’t leave the American people in the darkness.”

Peace talks between Washington and Tehran stalled

The failed vote came as peace negotiations between Washington and Tehran have largely stalled in recent weeks, even though the fragile ceasefire has mostly held despite occasional outbreaks of crossfire.

The President, on Monday, said the ceasefire was "on life support" as he accused Iran of backing away from an earlier understanding that would have allowed the United States to remove Tehran’s stockpile of enriched uranium. 

“I would call it the weakest, right now, after reading that piece of garbage they sent us — I didn’t even finish reading it,” Trump said, referring to Tehran’s reply to the US peace proposal.

Trump is currently on a high-stakes China visit, where he claimed President Xi Jinping had offered to help negotiate an end to the war with Iran and keep the Strait of Hormuz open to global shipping.

Trump added that Xi assured him that China would not provide military equipment to Iran. “He said he’s not going to give military equipment,” Trump told Fox News. “That’s a big statement.”