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US congressmen seek Iran block | US congressmen seek Iran block |
(20 minutes later) | |
A bipartisan group of US congressmen have put forward legislation to prevent the president attacking Iran without the authorisation of Congress. | A bipartisan group of US congressmen have put forward legislation to prevent the president attacking Iran without the authorisation of Congress. |
The move comes amid concern at George W Bush's attitude towards Iran. | The move comes amid concern at George W Bush's attitude towards Iran. |
He has recently decided to ratchet up the pressure on Tehran over what he calls unhelpful behaviour in Iraq. | He has recently decided to ratchet up the pressure on Tehran over what he calls unhelpful behaviour in Iraq. |
A second navy task force has recently been sent to the Gulf and last week US forces arrested Iranian officials in northern Iraq. | |
Democrats have already expressed concern about Mr Bush's decision to confront Iran rather than to engage it diplomatically. | Democrats have already expressed concern about Mr Bush's decision to confront Iran rather than to engage it diplomatically. |
Recent events have only heightened fears about his intentions. | Recent events have only heightened fears about his intentions. |
Containing ambition | Containing ambition |
The bipartisan group of 11 congressmen, led by a Republican, have put forward legislation that states that no previous resolution passed by Congress authorises a US attack on Iran. | The bipartisan group of 11 congressmen, led by a Republican, have put forward legislation that states that no previous resolution passed by Congress authorises a US attack on Iran. |
One of the Democrats who supports the legislation said that a new resolution was needed because the Bush administration had lied so many times in the run up to the Iraq war. | One of the Democrats who supports the legislation said that a new resolution was needed because the Bush administration had lied so many times in the run up to the Iraq war. |
But it may prove more of a symbolic move as, to become law, it would need the support of the Senate and the House of Representatives and to be signed by the president himself. | But it may prove more of a symbolic move as, to become law, it would need the support of the Senate and the House of Representatives and to be signed by the president himself. |
US officials have been playing down talk of attacking Iran. | US officials have been playing down talk of attacking Iran. |
The US Defence Secretary, Robert Gates, who has been meeting Arab leaders, said that no-one wanted another military conflict in the region. | The US Defence Secretary, Robert Gates, who has been meeting Arab leaders, said that no-one wanted another military conflict in the region. |
But Mr Gates defended the US military build-up as a way of containing Iran's ambitions. | But Mr Gates defended the US military build-up as a way of containing Iran's ambitions. |