The United States administration of President Donald Trump has said that the ongoing ceasefire with Iran effectively terminates hostilities for the purpose of complying with U.S. war powers law, easing immediate pressure to seek congressional approval.
A senior administration official said the ceasefire, which began in early April, means the conflict no longer triggers the requirements of the War Powers Resolution. The law limits a president’s ability to conduct military operations without congressional authorisation to 60 days, with a possible 30-day extension.
“For War Powers Resolution purposes, the hostilities that began on February 28 have terminated,” the official said, noting there has been no exchange of fire between U.S. forces and Iran since the truce took effect more than three weeks ago.
The position allows the administration to bypass a Friday deadline that would have required either ending the conflict, seeking approval from United States Congress, or formally requesting an extension.
The war began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched coordinated airstrikes on Iran. Trump notified Congress within 48 hours, starting the 60-day countdown to May 1 under the law.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers he believed the legal clock stopped during the ceasefire. However, opposition Democrats rejected that interpretation, arguing there is no provision in the law that pauses the timeline during a truce.
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between the executive branch and Congress over war-making authority. While the United States Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war, administrations have often justified military actions as limited operations or responses to immediate threats.
Trump’s Republican Party holds a narrow majority in both chambers of Congress, helping block efforts by Democrats to pass resolutions compelling the withdrawal of U.S. forces or requiring formal authorisation.
Since the conflict began, Iran has retaliated with strikes on Israeli targets and Gulf states hosting U.S. bases, while continued military actions across the region—including in Lebanon—have resulted in thousands of deaths and widespread displacement.
Although the ceasefire has reduced direct clashes between U.S. and Iranian forces, the broader conflict remains unresolved, with legal, political, and security uncertainties still shaping the path forward.
