Senate votes to constrain Trump on Gulf arms sales as Iran tensions heat up

A bipartisan group of senators rebuked President Donald Trump over an emergency declaration on Iran today — just as tensions in the Persian Gulf once again heat up after Tehran shot down a US drone.

After securing a deal with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Democrats mustered enough Republican support to block $8.1 billion worth of 22 separate arms transfers involving Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had cited an emergency threat posed by Iran last month in a bid to forestall such a vote.

“This weapons sale the administration is trying to push through without congressional review will not in any way equip the United States or our allies to better face any imminent threat from Iran,” Bob Menendez, D-N.J., argued on the Senate floor ahead of the vote.

The Senate voted 51-45 en bloc to halt 20 of the Gulf arms transfers. Senators also voted 53-45 on two separate resolutions to prevent defense contractor Raytheon from manufacturing precision-guided munitions in Saudi Arabia. The co-production arrangement in particular has raised concerns among lawmakers that the Saudis could gain access to US technology to produce their own smart bombs.