The White House informed Congress that it considers the war against Iran "over": "Hostilities have ceased"

Trump declared "terminated" hostilities with Iran in a letter to Congress, thus avoiding the legal deadline of May 1 that obliged him to obtain legislative authorization to continue the war conflict initiated on February 28, 2026.

The letter, addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson and the President pro tempore of the Senate Chuck Grassley, was sent exactly 60 days after Trump formally notified the Legislature of the start of military operations against Iran, the threshold established by the War Powers Resolution of 1973.

The law, passed during the Vietnam era so that Congress could regain control over war decisions, requires the president to end the use of the Armed Forces within that timeframe, unless the Legislature formally declares war or authorizes an extension of up to 30 days for the "orderly withdrawal" of troops. Congress took neither of those measures: the Senate rejected for the sixth time on Thursday a Democratic attempt to stop the conflict and the lawmakers left Washington that same day for a week's vacation.

The administration maintains that the Friday deadline does not apply because hostilities practically concluded when a fragile ceasefire came into effect in early April. “There has been no exchange of fire between the United States Armed Forces and Iran since April 7, 2026. The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have ceased”., Trump wrote in the letter. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reinforced that position before Congress on Thursday: “We are in a ceasefire right now, which according to our understanding means that the 60-day clock is paused or stopped”.

Military and legal experts pointed out that the law does not contain any language that supports that interpretation. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine responded directly to Hegseth during the hearing: “I don't think the statute supports that.” His colleague Richard Blumenthal, from Connecticut, was more categorical on social media: “There is no pause button in the Constitution or the War Powers Act. We are at war. We have been at war for 60 days. The blockade alone is a continuous act of war.”

The presidential letter sent to Mike Johnson and Chuck Grassley allowed Trump to bypass the requirement for legislative authorization for the war with Iran.

We recommend reading: Trump's letter acknowledged that the Iranian threat "remains significant" despite the ceasefire, and that the operations aim to "ensure a lasting peace." That admission contrasts with the declaration of "terminated" hostilities, given that the United States Navy maintains an active blockade to prevent Iranian tankers from going to sea, while Iran retains its control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump, upon leaving the White House for Florida on Friday, dismissed seeking Congressional approval and appealed to precedent: “No other president has asked for it before. It has never been used before. Why should we be different?” He added that he considers the War Powers Resolution “totally unconstitutional”, a position also held by previous presidents such as Bill Clinton and Barack Obama to circumvent its restrictions. The Trump administration maintains that the War Powers Act's deadline does not apply due to the ceasefire in effect since April. (REUTERS/Carlos Barria/Pool)

The leader of the Republican majority in the Senate, John Thune, of South Dakota, ruled out on Thursday calling a vote to authorize the use of force. "At this time I don't see that happening," he said. However, several Republican senators expressed growing unease at the prolongation of the conflict and its impact on fuel prices. Senator Susan Collins, of Maine, voted for the first time with the Democrats on Thursday to stop the conflict, arguing that the 60-day deadline "is not a suggestion, it is a requirement." Senators John Curtis, of Utah; Thom Tillis, of North Carolina; Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska, and Josh Hawley, of Missouri, also called for a vote at some point. Curtis announced that he will not support additional funding for the war until Congress formally authorizes it: "It is time for both the administration and Congress to make decisions, and that can happen jointly, not in conflict." Senator Todd Young, of Indiana, conditioned his position on the development of events: if the conflict resumes, he expects the White House to work with Congress to approve an authorization for the use of military force. Senator Kevin Cramer, of North Dakota, said he would vote in favor of that authorization if Trump requested it, although he questioned the constitutionality of the War Powers Resolution itself. “Our founders created a very strong executive, whether they like it or not,” he stated. Democratic Rep. Adam Smith, of Washington, the ranking member of the minority on the House Armed Services Committee, summed up his party's stance to The Associated Press: “Is the expectation that the Trump administration is going to follow the law? I don't have that expectation.”