On Iran and war powers, Moore: 'Sustained military presence' requires congressional approval

A caller from Salt Lake City asked Rep. Blake Moore whether he would sign a War Powers Resolution (the caller referenced Rep. Thomas Massie) to limit presidential authority in any conflict with Iran. The caller said there is a major military buildup and asked whether Congress would act.

Moore replied that while the president can authorize some limited military actions, "if there is sustained military presence in Iran, absolutely. No question. This has to be approved by Congress." He said the distinction between short, classified operations and long‑term deployments is central to how he would decide whether to press for congressional approval and that he has previously made similar statements in public remarks about past operations.

Moore acknowledged the constitutional role of Congress and said he would press for a formal vote if a prolonged deployment occurred. He also noted that debates over force authorization can become semantic at the margins — for example, whether a particular action constitutes an "authorized use of military force" or requires a declaration of war — and urged the public to consult his written statement on past classified operations for more detail.

What happens next: Moore said he did not know whether a floor vote would be forced in the coming weeks but said congressional oversight and potential action would depend on how the situation evolves.