U.S. House of Representatives: Military Action Against Iran Requires Congressional Approval

On Thursday, May 23, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment to the 2019 defense budget bill, stating that the U.S. government cannot take military action against Iran without congressional approval. This amendment, which was passed unanimously, was introduced by five Democratic representatives and one Republican representative in the House. Keith Ellison, a Democratic representative from Minnesota's 5th district, stated that this amendment sends a clear message that the American people and members of the House do not wish for war with Iran, emphasizing that the authority to use military force lies with Congress. This amendment was passed on the same day that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told members of the Senate that the Trump administration's pressure is not aimed at regime change in Iran. President Donald Trump announced on May 8 that the U.S. would withdraw from the nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers, known as the JCPOA. Trump stated that the JCPOA 'brought neither peace nor security,' and that the Islamic Republic continued to expand its ballistic missile program and support for terrorism after the agreement. Meanwhile, in recent days, Pompeo outlined 12 demands for a new nuclear agreement with Iran, stating that the U.S. would impose 'the most severe sanctions in history' against Iran and that if the Iranian government does not change its behavior, the pressure from sanctions will increase. Pompeo insisted that Iran must change its behavior, and regarding his 12 demands, he said: 'We simply asked them to behave like all normal, non-aggressive countries.' Despite Pompeo's emphasis that the U.S. is not seeking regime change in Iran, Iranian officials have repeatedly accused the U.S. government of attempting to 'overthrow the regime.'