Republicans silent, Democrats irate at Iran ceasefire collapse

By Thérèse Boudreaux
The Center Square

With military hostilities between the U.S. and Iran resuming only weeks after the nations signed a peace deal, Democrats in Congress are demanding that the Trump administration refrain from launching further unauthorized strikes.

U.S. Central Command confirmed Tuesday and Wednesday that the U.S. retaliated against Iran’s attacks on three tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

But after President Donald Trump told reporters Wednesday that the U.S. will “probably” strike Iran again – which occurred that very afternoon – Democratic lawmakers took to social media to remind the Commander in Chief that he faces congressional opposition.

“Lawmakers from both parties already voted to end Trump’s disastrous war of choice against Iran,” Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, stated Wednesday. “I’m in conversations with the Senate to explore any and all legal pathways to hold Trump accountable.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., added on social media that Senate Democrats “remain united in our efforts to end this illegal war immediately and permanently.”

Congress never authorized the initial U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in February, nor any of the administration’s military actions that followed.

Trump initially invoked the War Powers Act of 1973, which gives the president 60 days to conduct military operations without congressional approval. When that date passed, Trump declared a temporary ceasefire – which he argued reset the clock – despite continued military hostilities.

By the time the U.S. and Iran signed the 60-day MOU in mid-June, enough Republicans in both chambers of Congress voted to pass a War Powers Resolution, a measure meant to prevent the president from further unauthorized military action.

“Congress voted against more war against Iran. The U.S. should not be launching new strikes without congressional authorization and restarting a war that has raised gas prices, killed Americans, and hurt the economy. The U.S. and Iran must uphold the ceasefire,” Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., a long-time war powers hawk, said Wednesday.

That rebuke, however, was largely seen as symbolic, as war powers resolutions are difficult to legally enforce. The Trump administration has even asked Congress for $67 billion to cover the roughly $30 billion the conflict has cost so far.

Since the initial joint U.S.-Israeli strikes launched against Iran on Feb. 28, global trade has seen disruptions and increased costs, while at least 13 U.S. servicemembers have died in the conflict and hundreds more injured.

Trump’s assertion Wednesday that further negotiations with Iranian leaders, whom he dubbed “sick people”, would be a “waste of time” drew further ire from congressional Democrats, who argue the administration should never have triggered military hostilities in the first place.

“This is all just ballooning foreign policy malpractice,” Sen. Chris Murphey, D-Conn., fumed. “The negotiations are a ‘waste of time’ because Trump’s negotiators change by the day. So do his goals and demands. It’s all gross incompetence that is costing American taxpayers and consumers billions.”

Notably, high-ranking congressional Republicans have remained silent on the peace deal’s collapse.

As of Wednesday afternoon, neither Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., nor House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Roger, R-Ala., have released statements on the rapidly changing events in Iran.

War hawk Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., have also remained mum.