Pelosi: House to Vote on Resolution to Limit Trump’s Iran Military Action

EghtesadOnline: US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday sent a letter to Democratic members of congress announcing the house will introduce and vote on a “War Powers Resolution” to limit US President Donald Trump’s military actions regarding Iran amid rising tension.

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07 January 2020

Pelosi wrote that the resolution “reasserts congress’s long-established oversight responsibilities by mandating that if no further congressional action is taken, the administration's military hostilities with regard to Iran cease within 30 days,” CNN reported.

The letter comes as the US is deploying thousands of additional troops to the Middle East following the airstrike that killed Iranian top commander, Qasem Soleimani, Financial Tribune reported.

Earlier Sunday, Trump reiterated his threat to target Iranian cultural sites.

"Last week, the Trump administration conducted a provocative and disproportionate military airstrike targeting high-level Iranian military officials. This action endangered our service members, diplomats and others by risking a serious escalation of tensions with Iran," Pelosi wrote.

Pelosi said the resolution would be led by Rep. Elissa Slotkin, who previously worked for the CIA and was an analyst for the Defense Department specializing in Shia militias.

“As members of congress, our first responsibility is to keep the American people safe. For this reason, we are concerned that the administration took this action without the consultation of congress and without respect for congress's war powers granted to it by the constitution,” she wrote.

Pelosi said the resolution will be similar to the War Powers Authorization Senator Tim Kaine filed in the US Senate that would require any hostilities with Iran to be approved by congress through a declaration of war or new authorization for the use of military force, a “privileged” resolution that he can force a debate and vote on, though it is not clear when that might happen.

“I greatly appreciate the solemnity with which all of our members are working to honor our responsibility to protect American lives and values,” Pelosi wrote in concluding her letter.

“Thank you for your patriotic leadership during this difficult time.”