The US strikes on Iran‘s nuclear facilities have ignited a heated debate over President Donald Trump’s authority to launch military attacks without Congressional approval. Democrats have been quick to accuse Trump of overstepping his powers, citing the US Constitution’s requirement that only Congress can declare war.
“Trump said he would end wars; now he has dragged America into one,” Senator Christopher Van Hollen Junior said in a statement. “His actions are a clear violation of our Constitution – ignoring the requirement that only the Congress has the authority to declare war.” This sentiment is echoed by other lawmakers, including Progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who stated, “He has impulsively risked launching a war that may ensnare us for generations. It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment.”
The War Powers Resolution of 1973 further reinforces Congress’s authority over the military, curbing the president’s war-making powers. Brian Finucane, a senior adviser with the US program of the International Crisis Group and former State Department lawyer, described the attack on Iran as “patently illegal.” He added that “even under the prevailing executive branch doctrine, this is likely to constitute ‘war’ requiring congressional authorization.”
Key progressive Senator Bernie Sanders also weighed in on the issue, saying, “It is so grossly unconstitutional. All of you know that the only entity that can take this country to war is the US Congress; the president does not have that right.” Former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated that lawmakers will be “demanding answers” from the administration, saying, “Tonight, the President ignored the Constitution by unilaterally engaging our military without Congressional authorization.”
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid escalating tensions with the US. Araghchi emphasized that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful and called on the international community to condemn the US attacks. “Iran has done nothing wrong. We do not understand why Iran should be attacked for a false accusation that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons,” he said.
In response to the US strikes, Iran has warned of “everlasting consequences” and vowed to respond based on its legitimate right to self-defense. The US intelligence community had previously assessed that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon, a finding that Trump has disputed.