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Trump notifies Congress of ended Iran hostilities
U.S. President Donald Trump informed congressional leaders on Friday that military operations against Iran have concluded, citing an ongoing ceasefire as grounds to bypass a legal requirement for legislative approval.
Legal dispute over War Powers Resolution
The 1973 War Powers Resolution mandates that a president must obtain Congress's authorization within 60 days of initiating military action or withdraw forces. Trump argued in his letter that the ceasefire, agreed last month, suspended this obligation.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth supported this interpretation during a Thursday hearing, stating the deadline clock had paused. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine countered, "I do not believe the statute would support that."
No long-term deal despite diplomatic efforts
While the U.S. and Iran have not finalized a broader peace agreement, Iranian state media reported Tehran sent a new proposal to Washington via Pakistani intermediaries on Friday. Details remain undisclosed, and it is unclear if the U.S. has received the document.
Trump told reporters, "We just had a conversation with Iran. Let's see what happens. But, I would say that I am not happy." He attributed stalled negotiations to "very confused" Iranian leadership following the deaths of top military officials in the conflict.
"They're not coming through with the kind of deal that we have to have. And we're going to get this thing done properly. We're not going to leave early and then have the problem arise in three more years."
President Donald Trump
Sanctions and shipping disruptions persist
The U.S. Treasury issued a warning Friday that any entity paying Iran for passage through the Strait of Hormuz risks violating sanctions. The critical waterway remains effectively closed, exacerbating global economic strain.
Congressional gridlock and legal challenges
Lawmakers face growing pressure to vote on formal war authorization, but Democratic-led efforts to constrain Trump's actions have repeatedly failed, with most Republicans opposing the measures. Some GOP members, however, have signaled potential reconsideration after the 60-day deadline.
When asked about seeking congressional approval, Trump dismissed the idea: "No other country has ever done it. Most people consider it totally unconstitutional."
Legal experts dispute the administration's stance. Heather Brandon-Smith, a professor at Georgetown University Law Center, argued that a ceasefire does not reset the War Powers Resolution's 60-day clock. "A ceasefire is not a permanent end to the conflict," she said. "Only a definitive resolution or judicial intervention could halt the war if the administration continues hostilities."
Origins of the conflict
The confrontation began after U.S. and Israeli strikes killed Iran's supreme leader, prompting retaliatory attacks by Tehran on Israel and U.S.-allied Gulf states. The U.S. and Israel have long accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons-a claim Tehran denies.
