Trump tells Congress he does not need their approval for Iran war | BBC News
Donald Trump states he is unsatisfied with Iran's latest deal proposal, citing divisions within Iranian leadership as a barrier to negotiations. The conflict has now exceeded 60 days, triggering a potential constitutional showdown with Congress over war authorization powers. New polling indicates nearly two-thirds of Americans believe the attack on Iran was a mistake.
Summary
In this BBC News report, correspondent Sarah Smith covers Donald Trump's latest statements regarding the ongoing conflict with Iran and the diplomatic impasse surrounding it. Trump told reporters he is not satisfied with Iran's current proposal to end the war, suggesting that Iran's internal divisions make effective negotiation nearly impossible. When pressed on what options remain, Trump mentioned he could 'blast them to hell' but indicated he had no desire to resume a bombing campaign.
The report highlights a significant lack of public support for continued military action, with new polling showing that almost two-thirds of Americans believe the initial attack on Iran was a mistake. Trump himself has left Washington for Florida, where he is visiting a retirement village and focusing on domestic economic concerns, particularly the rising cost of living attributed to the war.
A major constitutional issue has also emerged: the conflict has now surpassed 60 days, at which point the War Powers Act requires the president to seek Congressional authorization to continue military operations. Trump is arguing that an existing ceasefire between the US and Iran pauses this 60-day countdown — an interpretation described as 'very novel' and one that many in Congress reject. This sets the stage for a significant confrontation between the executive and legislative branches over the legality and authority to continue the war.
Key Insights
- Trump claims Iran wants to make a deal because 'they have no military left essentially,' yet he remains unsatisfied with their current proposal.
- When asked about other options, Trump said he could 'blast them to hell' but indicated he did not want to resume a bombing campaign against Iran.
- New polling shows that almost two-thirds of the American people believe that attacking Iran was a mistake, reflecting broad public opposition to continued military action.
- Trump argues that an active ceasefire between the US and Iran pauses the 60-day War Powers Act countdown, a legal interpretation that many in Congress strongly dispute.
- Sarah Smith notes that Trump is campaigning on cost-of-living issues in Florida, signaling that the economic consequences of the Iran war have become a domestic political liability.
Topics
Transcript
[0:00] Now, Donald Trump says he can't accept Iran's latest proposal to end the war in the Middle East. He told reporters that tan is having problems negotiating effectively proposal, please. >> So, they want to make a deal, but I don't I'm not satisfied with it. So, we'll see what happens. >> Iran wants to make a deal because they have no military left essentially, and they want to make a deal, but I'm not satisfied with it. Well, Sarah Smith's live in Washington for us. Given his belief the Iranians [0:31] are all over the place, Sarah, what's Mr. Trump going to do to break the impass? >> Yeah, you heard him there saying that that he's not…
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