US Congress Moves to Limit Trump War Powers as Iran Conflict Escalates Regionally
The US Congress is set to vote this week on measures to curb President Trump's war-making authority as military operations against Iran expand across the Middle East, though Republican majorities are expected to block the efforts.
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The United States Congress will vote this week on resolutions to limit President Donald Trump's authority to wage war against Iran, though the Republican-controlled legislature is likely to shield the president from constraints, according to Daily Trust.
The legislative push comes as US-Israeli military operations against Iran, which began Saturday under the codenames "Operation Epic Fury" and "Operation Roaring Lion," have expanded into a wider regional conflict. Iran has retaliated with strikes across the Middle East, closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz and launching drone attacks that hit the US embassy in Riyadh, causing minor damage and a limited fire, Saudi Arabia's defence ministry confirmed.
President Trump on Monday offered his most extensive public comments on the campaign, though stated objectives and timelines have shifted since operations began, Reuters reported. Trump warned Iran that a "big wave" of attacks was yet to come, according to This Day, as the conflict's scope and justification remain fluid.
The military escalation has inflicted significant damage on Iranian infrastructure, including major damage to Tehran's Golestan Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Al Jazeera reported. Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed more than 50 people in what Israel describes as responses to Hezbollah rocket attacks.
Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly one-fifth of global oil passes—has sent shockwaves through energy markets. Analysts told Al Jazeera that consumers worldwide face higher prices, though US producers may benefit. South African economists warned the conflict could delay anticipated interest rate relief, according to Moneyweb.
At the United Nations, Arab countries condemned Iran's retaliatory strikes, stating Tehran had "upended their attempts to avoid a regional escalation," Daily Trust reported. The diplomatic criticism highlights deepening regional divisions as Gulf states reportedly consider their own military responses.
The South African government confirmed it is monitoring the escalation, with support groups forming among expatriates with family members stranded in the region, according to TimesLive.
Experts warn that predicting total costs of the campaign remains difficult, with inventory depletion potentially posing greater challenges than direct expenditure, Al Jazeera reported. An unexploded US kamikaze drone was found on farmland in western Iraq Monday, illustrating the operation's geographic spread.
The congressional vote represents a test of legislative authority over presidential war powers, an issue that has intensified since Trump's return to office in 2025. However, with Republican majorities in both chambers, efforts to constrain executive military action face steep odds.