Washington, DC: Hostilities with Iran have officially ended, despite the presence of US military forces in the Middle East, the White House informed Congress in a letter on Friday.
This assertion by president Donald Trump allows him to bypass a legal deadline of May 1 for Congress to approve continued military action against Iran. This deadline was set to lapse without any action from Republican lawmakers, who are largely deferring to the president, according to Associated Press (AP).
“The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated,” the letter, addressing House speaker Mike Johnson and Senate president pro tempore Chuck Grassley, states.
It highlights the contentious issue of presidential authority in matters of war. Trump had initiated military operations without congressional approval.
Trump has, however, noted that “the threat posed by Iran to the United States and our Armed Forces remains significant,” indicating that the conflict may not be entirely resolved, despite the administration’s claims of success in military operations against the Iranian regime.
Congress must either declare war or authorize military force within 60 days of engagement, The War Powers Resolution of 1973 mandates that. As Friday marked this deadline, Congress had not made any attempts to enforce this requirement before adjourning for a week, following a failed Democratic proposal to halt the war for the sixth time.
The ongoing ceasefire pauses the 60-day clock established by the War Powers Resolution, the Trump administration argues. During a congressional hearing, defense secretary Pete Hegseth stated, “We are in a ceasefire right now, which to our understanding means, the 60-day clock pauses or stops.”
This position raises concerns among Democrats who argue that military operations continue despite the ceasefire.
