WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 16th May, 2019) President Donald Trump must seek approval from Congress before taking any military action against Iran, US Senator Bob Menendez said on Wednesday.
"Congress has not authorized war with Iran, and the Administration, if it were contemplating military action with Iran, must come to Congress to seek approval," Menendez said.
The senator called for a "surge" of diplomatic efforts aimed at engaging US allies and Iran in serious negotiations to halt Tehran's malign activities and pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Department of State ordered all non-emergency US government personnel to leave Iraq.
US Central Command spokesman Bill Urban said in a statement on Tuesday that the US-led coalition is on high alert as it monitors credible threats to American forces in Iraq from Iranian-backed forces in the region.
The United States has reinforced its military presence in the Persian Gulf with the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and a bomber task force to send "a clear and unmistakable message" to Tehran. Washington also approved the additional deployment of the Patriot missile defense system and Arlington amphibious warship to the region last weekend. Iran has, for its part, repeatedly expressed its readiness to retaliate in the event of an attack on the Islamic Republic.
