Congress might actually get a say in whether the U.S. goes to war with Iran. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) are joining forces to compel a vote on their War Powers Resolution, which would require congressional authorization before any military strikes against Iran can happen.
The timing isn't coincidental. Reports suggest a potential U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran has reached a 90% likelihood, according to Trump administration officials cited by Khanna. That's the kind of probability that gets lawmakers nervous.
An Unusual Alliance Against Unilateral Action
On Wednesday, the bipartisan duo announced their intention to force the vote, setting up what could be a significant constitutional confrontation over war powers. Khanna framed it in personal terms: "Trump is positioning two aircraft carriers, a dozen warships & hundreds of fighter jets to prepare for a possible war with Iran. I first got into politics to end the Iraq War. I won't let Trump launch a disastrous war without Congress voting to stop it."
Massie echoed the sentiment from his side of the aisle, emphasizing that any decision about war deserves a congressional vote. He made clear he'll vote to put America first, which in his view means opposing further military entanglement in the Middle East.
Even former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) chimed in, arguing that most Americans aren't interested in another war. Instead, she said, they want affordable healthcare, good jobs, and world peace.
The Regional Powder Keg
The backdrop to all this is genuinely tense. Iran recently announced a temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz for live-fire military exercises. That narrow waterway handles about 20% of global oil shipments, so when Iran starts conducting drills there, people pay attention—especially global shipping companies and defense contractors.
Meanwhile, prediction markets show increasing odds that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could be removed from power, suggesting traders think major upheaval is coming.
President Donald Trump has been dropping hints about potential action against Iran, which has only pushed strike probabilities higher. The question now is whether Congress will actually get to weigh in before anything happens, or whether this War Powers push comes too late to matter.
