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U.S. lawmakers are expected to vote this week on whether to order an end to military strikes against Iran. But even as President Donald Trump’s objectives and rationale for the war keep shifting, most Republicans, who hold a majority in Congress, are expected to back him.

The war on Iran was not authorized by Congress and is likely illegal under international law, which only permits wars that have been authorized by the U.N. Security Council or undertaken in self-defense. Trump and other administration officials have described the assault as preemptive.

U.S. lawmakers are expected to vote this week on whether to order an end to military strikes against Iran. But even as President Donald Trump’s objectives and rationale for the war keep shifting, most Republicans, who hold a majority in Congress, are expected to back him.

The war on Iran was not authorized by Congress and is likely illegal under international law, which only permits wars that have been authorized by the U.N. Security Council or undertaken in self-defense. Trump and other administration officials have described the assault as preemptive.

“It was my opinion that they [the Iranians] were going to attack first. They were going to attack. If we didn’t do it, they were going to attack first—I felt strongly about that,” Trump said on Tuesday from the White House, when asked if Israel forced his hand in the decision to go to war. “So, if anything, I might have forced Israel’s hand.”

But just yesterday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the decision somewhat differently.

“It was abundantly........

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