US Senate fails to override Trump veto on Iran war powers

WASHINGTON — Congress has failed in its bid to block US President Donald Trump from engaging in further military action against Iran without backing from the legislative branch.

The Senate falls short of the votes to override Trump’s veto of a bipartisan resolution asserting that congressional authority. Trump vetoed the measure yesterday, calling it “insulting” and an attempt to divide the Republican party ahead of the presidential election.

The override attempt is defeated with 49 senators voting in favor of the override and 44 opposed. The measure needed two-thirds support to be approved.

The resolution’s chief sponsor, Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, says the war powers measure was not about Trump or even the presidency, but instead was an important reassertion of congressional power to declare war.

“It’s not insulting. It’s our job,” he said ahead of today’s vote. The measure was introduced “to stop an unnecessary war,” Kaine said.

Members of Congress from both parties expressed concern after the US launched an airstrike that killed a top Iranian general in Iraq in January. Lawmakers said they feared that Iran and the US were perilously close to all-out conflict and moved to restrain further actions Trump might take against Iran.

— AP