The White House has claimed that military hostilities with Iran are now “concluded,” pre-empting a 60-day statutory deadline that would have forced Donald Trump to seek congressional approval to continue the war – or withdraw.
Ceasefire effectively ends conflict
The Trump administration has said that military action in Iran is “concluded” ahead of a deadline set under war powers legislation. On Friday, the US president faced a 60-day cut-off to either end the war with Iran or ask Congress for an extension.
A senior official in the Trump administration said on Thursday that the US-Iran ceasefire, which began in early April, had “brought to an end” military hostilities between the two sides as the deadline for congressional war authorisation approached. Donald Trump’s deadline for ending the war with Iran or seeking an extension from Congress fell on Friday, though it now appears likely to pass without a change in the conflict’s trajectory.
No direct clashes for three weeks
“In order to resolve the conflict, military operations that began on February 28, have ceased,” the official said, outlining the administration’s stance. There have been no clashes between US and Iranian forces since a fragile truce was reached more than three weeks ago, the official added.
Earlier, analysts and congressional aides had said they expected Trump either to inform Congress of his intention to extend the agreement by 30 days, or to ignore the deadline entirely – with the administration arguing that the ceasefire marked the end of the conflict.
Senate blocks Democratic bid to curtail war
On Thursday, the Republican-led Senate again blocked a Democratic attempt to stop Trump’s war in Iran, rejecting a war powers resolution that would have limited the conflict unless Congress authorised further military action. The vote was 47–50, with two Republicans – Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky – voting in favour, and one Democrat – John Fetterman of Pennsylvania – voting against.
It was the sixth time this year Democrats had brought a war powers resolution related to the conflict to a vote. All have failed, largely along party lines.
Schiff warns of constitutional breach
Adam Schiff, the resolution’s author, said Thursday’s vote was crucial. Friday marks 60 days since the Trump administration notified Congress that it was striking targets in Iran. Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, a president must end a military campaign after 60 days unless Congress has declared war or authorised the use of military force.
Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, told lawmakers on Capitol Hill that the 60-day clock had been suspended because of the current ceasefire with Iran – an interpretation that Democrats and other critics have viewed with deep concern.
Constitutional limits tested
The US Constitution states that only Congress, not the president, can declare war – but that restriction does not apply to operations the administration deems short-term or in response to an immediate threat. Trump’s Republican party holds slim majorities in both chambers of Congress.
Earlier this month, the House of Representatives also narrowly rejected another resolution aimed at reining in military action in Iran. The measure, introduced by Greg Meeks, the senior Democrat on the House foreign affairs committee, failed by a single vote: 213 to 214, with one Republican voting present. At least two more votes would have been needed for the bill to pass, given the lack of a tie in the chamber.
