U.S. Strikes Iran for Second Day, Defying Congressional War Powers Resolution

Just days after the U.S. Congress passed a resolution requiring President Donald Trump to end military operations against Iran or seek prior approval from both chambers, the Trump administration launched airstrikes on Iranian military targets for a second consecutive day. The move immediately drew sharp criticism from Democrats, who accused the president of flagrantly violating the war powers resolution.

Representative Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, condemned the latest U.S. strikes on Iran as “a flagrant violation” and threatened to take President Trump to court. “Trump must stop this war now – if he does not, we will take him to court to force him to do so,” Khanna wrote on social media platform X.

What the War Powers Resolution Says

The 1973 War Powers Act requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing forces to hostilities and prohibits maintaining military actions beyond 60 days without congressional approval.

The U.S. Senate voted 50-48 on June 24 to pass the new resolution, despite President Trump's Republican Party holding a majority. Four Republican senators voted in favor. The House of Representatives had passed a similar measure earlier in June with a 215-208 vote.

The resolution directs the president “to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran.” The president may use force only with “explicit authorization from a declaration of war or a specific authorization from Congress.”

White House Response and Binding Nature

The White House dismissed the Senate resolution, calling it “meaningless” and driven by “the absence of Republican senators.” A White House official stated, “The resolution directs the President to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran. However, there are no hostilities to withdraw from, as hostilities ended with the ceasefire on April 7.” Yet just days after that statement, Mr. Trump ordered airstrikes on Iran.

Analysts note the resolution is more symbolic than legally binding. U.S. constitutional expert Bruce Fein observed, “Courts will refuse to intervene, but Congress can end the war by cutting the funding Trump requests. What he is doing is clearly an impeachable act.”

Unlike previous administrations, President Trump has never obtained any Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), which would permit troop deployment without a formal declaration of war.

Risk of Escalation

On June 28, U.S. Central Command attacked Iranian military bases after accusing Tehran of targeting a vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz. In retaliation, Tehran struck U.S. military bases in Bahrain and Kuwait on June 29. The two sides exchanged fire for the second time over the weekend, threatening to break the fragile Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the U.S. and Iran on June 15.

Professor Hassan Ahmadian of the University of Tehran warned the attacks could trigger a domino effect. “I think we are heading toward escalation, because clearly Iran will retaliate,” he said. He noted that Article 5 of the MoU stipulates Iran will arrange safe passage for commercial vessels for 60 days, after which Iran and Oman will take over. “Now, the U.S. wants different arrangements, contrary to what it signed. What we are seeing is the U.S. trying to back out of the memorandum while forcing Iran to comply with its terms.”

Tensions are further complicated by Israel’s continued airstrikes on Lebanon, despite a framework agreement signed on June 27 and the MoU’s call for an end to war on all fronts.