Bipartisan Congress bill seeks to block US war on Iran
4 Min Read
US lawmakers introduce a bill to limit war powers on Iran as Trump signals a diplomatic path and new polls show Republican voters oppose military action.
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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., speaks to reporters following closed-door party meetings at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, June 17, 2025 (AP)
A bipartisan effort is underway in the US Congress to curb any potential military involvement in the ongoing conflict with Iran. Republican Representative Thomas Massie and Democratic Representative Ro Khanna have introduced legislation aimed at restricting presidential war powers and preventing the United States from engaging in military operations against the Islamic Republic of Iran without congressional authorization.
The proposed bill comes as public sentiment in the US shows signs of skepticism toward military escalation. A new poll by the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft revealed that 53% of Republican voters oppose a war on Iran, while 63% favor pursuing diplomatic negotiations instead.
Amid growing regional instability and calls for restraint, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce emphasized on Tuesday that President Donald Trump remains committed to diplomatic solutions. “The president is still looking for diplomatic paths through negotiations,” Bruce said, adding that Trump’s stance on Iran “has not changed.”
Trump reviewing intelligence on Iranian activity
Bruce declined to offer details on any ongoing or potential talks but reiterated that Trump and Senator Marco Rubio are closely reviewing intelligence reports regarding Iran’s nuclear activities. She also clarified that the United States is not involved in the recent wave of Israeli attacks on Iran.
Referring to Trump’s Truth Social post in which he warned against the firing of missiles at civilians or US troops, Bruce said the message clearly represents the administration’s position: “Any targeting of Americans will be met with a response, which should not come as a surprise.”
Meanwhile, the White House confirmed that a meeting of the US National Security Council was convened on Tuesday, though it was delayed by over 90 minutes for undisclosed reasons, according to Al Mayadeen’s Washington correspondent.
US fighter jets deployed to region
The United States is reportedly deploying additional fighter jets to the Middle East as the unprovoked and illegal Israeli war on Iran continues to escalate, according to a Fox News report citing a US official on Tuesday.
The move includes extending the presence of existing US air assets in the region, underlining Washington’s continued military presence amid growing instability. The deployment reportedly consists of F-16, F-22, and F-35 advanced defensive jets, though their positioning in proximity to active combat zones raises serious questions.
This comes as the Islamic Republic of Iran's Army announced Tuesday that its integrated air defense network successfully detected, intercepted, and brought down 28 different types of hostile aircraft over a 24-hour period.
Trump threatens Iran
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump continues threatening Iran, going as far as to make clear threats about the Israeli-American intention to assassinate Iranian Leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei.
Earlier in the day, Trump issued a pointed statement, saying his “patience with Iran is wearing thin.” He went as far as to claim that the US could “easily eliminate” Sayyed Khamenei but was choosing not to, for now.
Trump also said he is seeking a “real deal” to resolve the nuclear standoff with Iran, not just a ceasefire, and indicated he may send top officials to meet with the Islamic Republic, even as the Israeli occupation continues its intense aerial campaign across Iranian territory.
Speaking aboard Air Force One during Trump's late-night departure from the G7 summit in Canada, he hinted at potential diplomatic outreach, suggesting that either US envoy Steve Witkoff or Vice President JD Vance could travel to engage with Iranian counterparts. His remarks were relayed via a CBS News journalist on the social media platform X.
Trump estimated that "Israel" would not be slowing its attacks on Iran. "You're going to find out over the next two days. You're going to find out. Nobody's slowed up so far," the CBS journalist quoted Trump as saying on Air Force One, implying that military developments could soon escalate.
