The US House of Representatives approved a resolution demanding that US President Donald Trump end military actions against Iran.

The measure passed with 214 votes in favor and 208 against. The initiative was supported, among others, by four members of the lower chamber of Congress representing the ruling Republican Party. The resolution “directs the president to end the use of the US Armed Forces in hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran” and effectively prohibits possible ground operations. However, it is not binding on the executive branch of the US government and is advisory in nature. In such documents, lawmakers express their position. The US administration is free to ignore them.

The US Constitution grants the power to declare war not to the president, but to Congress. Nevertheless, in recent decades American leaders have interpreted very broadly the authorizations granted by lawmakers to use military force abroad, including to launch what are in effect fundamentally new operations.

It is possible that a similar resolution will also be put to a vote in the Senate in the coming hours.