US House of Representatives Republicans on Thursday cancelled a planned vote on a measure to halt the Iran war after concerns it could pass and hand a political defeat to US President Donald Trump.

Republican leaders reportedly lacked enough votes to block the resolution because several party members were absent and some Republicans appeared ready to support the measure.

The vote has now been delayed until lawmakers return from recess in June.

House Speaker Mike Johnson kept an unrelated vote open for nearly an hour while party leaders discussed how to proceed.

Democratic Congressman Gregory Meeks accused Republicans of shielding the president, telling reporters: “They’re covering up for the president.”

Republicans Brian Fitzpatrick and Tom Barrett were among those expected to back the resolution again after previously supporting a similar measure last week.

Fitzpatrick later warned party leaders about delaying the vote, saying: “The next time they bring it, it’s passing.”

The dispute comes after a bipartisan coalition in the Senate pushed a similar Iran war powers measure earlier this week.