Kathmandu [Nepal], November 11 – The US House of Representatives has blocked an effort to impeach Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over his role in the war against Iran, for now.
The Republican-controlled chamber voted 211-204 on Tuesday to refer the resolution to the House Judiciary Committee, halting the process.
Republican Thomas Massie introduced it over Hegseth’s handling of the Iran war. All Republicans except Massie backed sending it to the committee.
Democrats criticised the vote and called for Hegseth to be held accountable. Representative Mike Quigley said on X that the effort could resume Wednesday or next January.
The Pentagon called the outcome a “total victory”. Spokesperson Sean Parnell said it was a win for Hegseth, the department and US troops, adding that the politically motivated effort would end in committee.
Senate Republican leader John Thune said Hegseth still retained President Donald Trump’s confidence and would remain in office.
Eleven Democrats missed the vote. Representative Jonathan Jackson said traffic delayed his arrival; he later recorded his opposition in the record, but the result remained unchanged.
Meanwhile, Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused Israel of pushing Washington into an endless war with Iran. Security chief Mohsen Rezaei denied reports of talks between Tehran and Washington.
