The largely symbolic measure seeks to mandate congressional approval for any conflict with Iran, except in cases of an imminent attack against the US.

It is expected to pass the Democratic-held House, but faces tougher prospects in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Neither the US nor Iran have declared plans for further military action.

Iran this week fired missiles at Iraqi bases housing American forces, injuring no-one, after the US last week killed a senior Iranian commander in a Baghdad drone strike.

Thursday’s measure directs the president to “terminate the use of United States Armed Forces” against Iran unless granted congressional authorisation.

It offers an exception when necessary to “defend against an imminent armed attack”.

Even if the measure clears Congress, it would not reach the president’s desk for a potential veto because it is known as a concurrent resolution, which lacks the force of law.

Mart Helme, the chairman of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party, took a swipe at Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin during a radio interview on Sunday, ridiculing her and her party.

“Now we see how one sales girl has become a prime minister, and how some other street activists and non-educated people have also joined the cabinet,” the 70-year-old Helme said of Marin, according to the BBC.

He also called Marin’s Social Democratic Party “red” and alleged that it was out to “liquidate” Finland with its policies.

At the age of 34, Marin, who has spoken out about growing up in a disadvantaged family and who worked as a sales assistant before going to a university, is the world’s youngest prime minister.

Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid called her Finnish counterpart, Sauli Niinisto, on Monday to give a public apology on behalf of her country and its interior minister. She said she was “embarrassed” by Helme’s remarks.

Helme apologized much later, blaming the media for overplaying his comments. He said he had intended to “acknowledge that it is possible to work oneself up from a low social level also into top politics,” according to the BBC.

“If someone has misunderstood it… then indeed I want to say that I am offering my apology to the prime minister of Finland,” he added.

For her part, Marin responded on Twitter by saying she was “extremely proud of Finland.”

“Here a child from a poor family can get educated and achieve many things in their lives,” she wrote. “The cashier of the shop can become a prime minister.”

Helme is widely known in the Baltic country for political gaffes and sexist comments, including personal attacks on Kaljulaid. His most recent remarks led to the collapse of Estonia’s three-party coalition government led by Prime Minister Juri Ratas.

On Tuesday, members of the 101-seat Riigikogu voted 44-42 to remove Helme. However, the motion needed an absolute majority of 51 votes to pass.

The test possibly involved technologies to improve intercontinental ballistic missiles that could potentially reach the continental United States.

The announcement comes as North Korea continues to pressure the Trump administration for major concessions as it approaches an end-of-year deadline set by leader Kim Jong Un to salvage faltering nuclear negotiations.

North Korea’s Academy of Defense Science did not specify what was tested on Friday. Just days earlier, the North said it conducted a “very important test” at the site on the country’s northwestern coast, prompting speculation that it involved a new engine for either an ICBM or a space launch vehicle.

The announcement suggests that the country is preparing to do something to provoke the United States if Washington doesn’t back down and make concessions to ease sanctions and pressure on Pyongyang in deadlocked nuclear negotiations.

An unnamed spokesman for the academy said scientists received warm congratulations from members from the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea Central Committee who attended the test that lasted from 10:41 to 10:48 p.m. Friday at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground, where the North has conducted satellite launches and liquid-fuel missile engine tests in recent years.

The spokesman said the successful outcome of the latest test, in addition to the one on Dec. 7, “will be applied to further bolster up the reliable strategic nuclear deterrent of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” referring to North Korea’s formal name.

Kim Dong-yub, a former South Korean military officer and currently an analyst from Seoul’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies, said the North mentioning its nuclear deterrent makes it clear it tested a new engine for an ICBM, not a satellite-launch vehicle. Kim said it was notable that North Korea announced the specific length of the test, which he said possibly signals a larger liquid-fuel ICBM engine.

North Korea’s current ICBMs, including the Hwasong-15, are built with first stages that are powered by a pair of engines that experts say are modelled after Russian designs. When the North first tested the engine in 2016, it said the test lasted for 200 seconds and demonstrated a thrust of 80 tons-force.