By Patricia Zengerle and Richard Cowan
WASHINGTON, April 9 (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Republicans on Thursday blocked a Democratic effort to end U.S. attacks on Iran, as Donald Trump’s party continued to prevent efforts to rein in the Republican president’s war powers.
Representative Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican, presided over an abbreviated “pro forma” House session, ending it before a group of Democrats could seek to pass the resolution via unanimous consent.
Democrats in the Senate and House of Representatives have tried and repeatedly failed in recent months to pass war powers resolutions to force Trump to obtain lawmakers’ authorization before launching military operations, in both Venezuela and Iran.
Trump’s threat early this week that “a whole civilization will die” intensified concern from Democrats, dozens of whom called for Trump’s removal from office. The 1949 Geneva Conventions on humanitarian conduct in war prohibit attacks on sites considered essential for ‌civilians.
“Threatening genocide is not a negotiating tactic,” Representative Sara Jacobs, a California Democrat, told a news conference outside the Capitol after the pro forma session, held because Congress is out of Washington for the two-week Easter recess.
Trump announced that he had agreed to a ceasefire in the U.S.-Israel war on Iran on Tuesday, less than two hours before his deadline for Tehran to reopen the blockaded Strait of Hormuz or face devastating attacks on its civilian infrastructure.
The White House says Trump’s actions are legal and within his rights as commander-in-chief to protect the U.S. by ordering limited military operations.
Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful. The Trump administration has sought to portray the war as a decisive victory, although the top U.S. general said U.S. troops stood ready to resume fighting.
Trump’s fellow Republicans hold slim majorities in both the Senate and House, and have almost unanimously backed all of his policies.
Although the U.S. Constitution says that Congress, not the president, can declare war, that restriction does not apply for short-term operations or if the country faces an immediate threat.

- U.S. House Republicans blocked a Democratic initiative to limit President Trump's war powers regarding Iran.  
- Despite repeated attempts, Democrats have been unsuccessful in passing resolutions requiring Trump to seek congressional approval for military actions in Iran and Venezuela.  
- The White House maintains that Trump's military actions are legal under his authority as commander-in-chief, despite concerns raised by Democrats about humanitarian impacts.

Reuters

Dow Jones Transportation Average

Dow Jones Industrial Average

Nasdaq

NASDAQ Composite Index

Cboe Global Markets

Dow Jones U.S. Index

Dow Jones Utility Average

NASDAQ-100

S&P 500

First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted

Proshares UltraPro QQQ

VG Financial

Ps S&P Low Vol

Pacer Cash COWZ 100-Nasdaq100RotatorETF

Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund

Schwab US Div Eq

VG Growth

Invesco Nasdaq 100 ETF

Pro Ultrshort Qqq

JPMorgan Equity Premium Inc ETF

ProShares Shrt QQQ

Fidelity Nasdaq Composite Index ETF

Proshares UltraPro Short QQQ ETF

Global X Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF

Invesco QQQ Trust

First Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity

Fidelity MSCI Financials Index

Invesco S&P 500 Eq Wgt ETF

iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF

Ark Innovation ETF

iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF

ISHRS Us Brokers & Sec Exchg

ProShares Ultra QQQ

Cboe Validus S&P 500 Dynamic Putwrite Index ETF

US Republicans block bid to rein in Trump Iran war powers