US Senate Democrats claim they have enough bipartisan backing to pass a war powers resolution as early as next week aimed at restricting President Donald Trump's military action against Iran.
"We now have the 51 votes that we need for the version that's the bipartisan version," said Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, who introduced the measure intended to force Trump to seek authority from Congress if military hostilities with Iran last for more than 30 days.
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Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, right, and the head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi inspect the nuclear technology on the occasion of Iran National Nuclear Technology Day in Tehran in 2019. EPA -
IR-8 centrifuges at Natanz nuclear power plant, some 300 kilometres south of capital Tehran. AFP -
The Iranian nuclear power plant in Bushehr in 2010. EPA -
Salehi speaks with media while visiting Natanz enrichment facility, in central Iran in 2019. Atomic Energy Organization of Iran via AP -
The gate of Natanz nuclear power plant in Natanz , Isfahan province, in 2019. EPA -
Inside of the Iran's Fordow nuclear facility, in Fordow, Qom province in 2019. EPA -
Technicians work at the Arak heavy water reactor's secondary circuit, as officials and media visit the site, near Arak, Iran in 2019. Atomic Energy Organization of Iran via AP -
Members of the media and officials tour the water nuclear reactor at Arak in 2019. WANA via Reuters -
Concrete is poured for the base of the second nuclear power reactor at Bushehr plant in 2019. Atomic Energy Organization of Iran via AP
Mr Kaine named four Republican senators - Rand Paul, Mike Lee, Todd Young and Susan Collins - who he said will join the 47 Democrats voting in favour in the 100-member chamber.
Ms Collins said in a statement that she would co-sponsor Kaine's revised resolution because it "reasserts Congress's constitutional role and recognises that the framers (of the US Constitution) did not vest in the president the authority to declare war unilaterally."
The measure is privileged, meaning Republicans who oppose it would not be able to block a vote once the legislation "ripens."
That process will occur on Sunday, and the resolution would first be available for Senate consideration next week, Mr Kaine said.
But the measure could bump up against Senate responsibilities that will take centre stage in coming days: Mr Trump's impeachment trial, which could begin next Tuesday.
"We will work out the timing," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said of the war powers resolution.
"We have to figure out how it intersects with impeachment, but we believe that this resolution is the right way to go."
Should the measure pass the Senate it would serve as a congressional rebuke of Mr Trump after his order to kill an Iranian commander triggered retaliatory missile strikes by Tehran and dramatically escalated tensions.
The House passed its own war powers resolution last week. But unlike the Senate version, the House's measure is not binding, meaning it would need to pass the Senate version in order to get it to the president's desk.
Mr Trump would almost certainly veto a measure that clips his powers to take military action, and there likely are not sufficient votes in Congress to overcome a veto.
Mr Kaine said he was meeting with more Republicans to broaden support for his effort, but one Republican who has been an occasional Trump critic was not on board.
Senator Mitt Romney said he will vote no because he does not want to "tie the president's hands" in responding to further Iranian aggression.
